§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the access of patients to(a) Cox-2, (b) Anti TNFs and (c) metal on metal hip resurfacing; and if he will make a statement. [101659]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 7 March 2003]The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) was asked to appraise the use of infliximab (Remicade) and etanercept (Enbrel) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. NICE issued its guidance on 22 March 2002, which recommended the use of etanercept for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis and etanercept and infliximab for adult rheumatoid arthritis.
NICE issued guidance on 26 July 2001 on the use of four drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis to the national health service in England and Wales. The four drugs, celecoxib, etodolac, rofecoxib and meloxicam, are Cox II selective inhibitors and are a type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used for short-term treatment of acute inflammation in joints caused by arthritis. They recommended they be considered in preference to standard treatments only when there is a high risk of patients suffering from gastrointestinal problems as a side effect of treatment.
350WNICE also issued guidance on 19 June 2002 recommending the selective use of a technique called metal on metal hip resurfacing, used to treat hip disease. They recommended that metal on metal hip resurfacing be considered as an option for people with advanced hip disease who would otherwise receive conventional primary total hip replacements and are likely to live longer than the device is likely to last. It also recommended that information be collected on the long-term effectiveness of the technique.
On 5 December 2001, the Government announced that they would meet their commitment to ensure that patients receive drugs and treatments recommended by NICE on the NHS if deemed appropriate by their clinicians. Directions were issued on 11 December 2001 obliging health authorities and primary care trusts to provide appropriate funding for recommended treatments.