HC Deb 19 September 2003 vol 410 cc1262-3W
Keith Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason anti-TNF therapy is not available to patients in the Leicester area.[131094]

Dr. Ladyman

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy has been available to patients in the Leicestershire area since 2002, in line with the National Institute for Clinical Excellence timescale for implementation. It is provided by the University Hospitals of Leicester National Health Service Trust for those patients who meet the criteria which has been agreed by the Trust and the primary care trusts in the area.

Keith Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many requests for anti-TNF treatment he has received in the last 12 months.[131095]

Dr. Ladyman

We estimate that there has been around 170 letters from right hon. and hon. Members and the public on this subject. There have also been several Parliamentary Questions on anti-TNF therapy and there was an adjournment debate on the care and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in July.

Keith Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost of providing anti-TNF treatment per patient.[131096]

Dr. Ladyman

In their appraisal of these drugs, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence estimated the costs per patient using the Monthly Index of Medical Specialities, September 2001. Updated costs from the September 2003 edition show that Etanercept costs £178.75 per week when administered at a dose of 25 mg. twice weekly, equivalent to £9,295 per annum. Infliximab costs £451.20 per vial, equivalent to £12,182 in the first year and an average of £8,798 in subsequent years.