Proton Pump Inhibitors

HL Deb 01 April 2003 vol 646 cc124-5WA

Lord Walton of Detchant

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are satisfied that the recommendations of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence relating to the treatment of dyspepsia and gastro-oesophageal reflux with proton pump inhibitors are being widely implemented within the National Health Service. [HL2245]

Baroness Andrews

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its guidance on the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the treatment of dyspepsia in July 2000. The guidance made a number of recommendations intended to achieve the most clinically and cost-effectiveness use of PPIs. NICE estimated that its advice, if fully implemented, could lead to a reduction in the use of PPIs. Such a reduction has not yet occurred. We anticipate that the impetus better to target these treatments will increase when NICE publishes its clinical guideline on the primary management of dyspepsia, due later this year.