NICE (Hansard, 10 December 2002)

§ John Mann
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is his policy that compulsory NHS funding will not be required for older NICE-approved technologies where they are superseded by newer, more cost-effective and medically advanced NICE-approved treatments. [85045]

§ Mr. Lammy
[holding answer 5 December 2002]: The statutory funding obligation applies to the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) technology guidance which is extant at this time. When NICE reviews it's earlier guidance it takes account of new technologies which may have emerged since the original appraisal.

§ Mr. Syms
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's recommendations to the NHS in England and Wales regarding the drugs donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon) and galantamine (Reminyl) are implemented at a local level. [85466]

§ Mr. Lammy
Primary care trusts (PCTs) in England are under a statutory obligation to provide funding for treatments recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. We expect PCTs to meet these statutory obligations and will arrange to investigate allegations that patients are being denied treatment deemed appropriate by relevant clinicians.

§ Mr. Syms
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the National Institute of Clinical Excellence's decision-making process, with particular reference to the effect of the speed of its decision-making process on the United Kingdom pharmaceutical industry. [85469]

§ Mr. Lammy
No. This is a matter for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence itself. The Institute reviewed its appraisal process in consultation with stakeholders in February 2001 and will carry out a further review in 2003. The Health Select Committee has also completed an inquiry into the work and processes of the institute.

§ Tim Loughton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 2 December 2002,Official Report, column 512W, on NICE, if he will list the NICE appraisals that have received appeals. [86803]
305W

§ Mr. Lammy
The 19 technology appraisals that received appeals were:

1. Computerised cognitive behaviour therapy for depression and anxiety

2. Cox -II inhibitors for skeletomuscular disease

3. Docetaxel and paclitaxel for ovarian cancer

4. Hip prostheses for primary total hip replacement

5. Human growth hormone in adults

6. Inhaler devices for treatment of asthma in older children

7. Inhaler devices for under fives

8. Interferon beta and glatiramer for multiple sclerosis (first appeal)

9. Interferon beta and glatiramer for multiple sclerosis (second appeal)

10. Irinotecan oxaliplatin and raltitrexed drugs for colorectal cancer (first appeal)

11. Irinotecan oxaliplatin and raltitrexed drugs for colorectal cancer (second appeal)

12. Laparoscopic surgery for hernia

13. New advances in hearing aid technology for hearing disability

14. Proton pump inhibitors for dyspepsia

15. Riluzole for motor neurone disease

16. Rituximab for follicular lymphoma

17. Taxanes for breast cancer

18. The use of the newer (atypical) antipsychotic drugs in treatment of schizophrenia 19.Vinorelbine for breast cancer