§ Martin LintonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on NHS circular HSC/1999/176 with respect to the duty of health authorities to develop policies for the managed introduction of drugs in advance of a decision by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence; [13173]
(2) when the National Institute for Clinical Excellence will report on anti-TNF drugs. [13174]
(3) whether health authorities and primary care groups may fund anti-TNF drugs in advance of the decision by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence; and (a) how many and (b) which are doing so. [13175]
§ Ms BlearsWe anticipate that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence will publish its guidance on anti-TNF drugs for rheumatoid arthritis in March 2002.
Until NICE has completed its appraisal, standing guidance in health service circular 1999/176 advises national health service bodies to use their existing arrangements to determine local prescribing policies, using the publicly available evidence to inform their decision.
The extent to which the NHS funds anti-TNF drugs will vary depending on local circumstances and priorities. Information on these local assessments is not collected centrally.