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| Patients to get sight-saving drug | Patients to get sight-saving drug |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| All patients in England suffering from a disease which causes blindness are to get access to a sight-saving drug. | All patients in England suffering from a disease which causes blindness are to get access to a sight-saving drug. |
| Lucentis treats wet age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of sight loss in the country. | Lucentis treats wet age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of sight loss in the country. |
| The drug is already available in Scotland, while Wales and Northern Ireland have said they will fund it. | The drug is already available in Scotland, while Wales and Northern Ireland have said they will fund it. |
| The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) had originally said patients should wait until they went blind in one eye. | The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) had originally said patients should wait until they went blind in one eye. |
| The suggestion, made last summer, caused an outcry from campaigners and doctors, prompting a U-turn by the NHS advisory body in December. | The suggestion, made last summer, caused an outcry from campaigners and doctors, prompting a U-turn by the NHS advisory body in December. |
| We've been waiting for this for over two years Steve WinyardRoyal National Institute for the Blind Lucentis: An NHS dilemma | We've been waiting for this for over two years Steve WinyardRoyal National Institute for the Blind Lucentis: An NHS dilemma |
| The announcement confirms that draft recommendation and comes after a unique agreement between NICE and the drug's manufacturer, Novartis. | The announcement confirms that draft recommendation and comes after a unique agreement between NICE and the drug's manufacturer, Novartis. |
| Under the deal the NHS will only fund 14 injections, with the cost of any more being met by manufacturer Novartis in a scheme dubbed "dose capping". | Under the deal the NHS will only fund 14 injections, with the cost of any more being met by manufacturer Novartis in a scheme dubbed "dose capping". |
| Trusts now have three months to comply with the decision. | |
| But the process which has led to the recommendation has caused much controversy. | But the process which has led to the recommendation has caused much controversy. |
| With clinical trials showing impressive results, some primary care trusts (PCTs), which decide on funding on a local level in the NHS, have been paying for the treatment ahead of final NICE approval. | With clinical trials showing impressive results, some primary care trusts (PCTs), which decide on funding on a local level in the NHS, have been paying for the treatment ahead of final NICE approval. |
| This has prompted accusations of a postcode lottery in the NHS and led to legal action against PCTs which were not paying for it. | This has prompted accusations of a postcode lottery in the NHS and led to legal action against PCTs which were not paying for it. |
| In one recent case, three Warwickshire pensioners ended up in the High Court, winning an out of court settlement last month. | In one recent case, three Warwickshire pensioners ended up in the High Court, winning an out of court settlement last month. |
| Wait | Wait |
| Steve Winyard, head of campaigns at the Royal National Institute for the Blind, said: "We've been waiting for this for over two years. | Steve Winyard, head of campaigns at the Royal National Institute for the Blind, said: "We've been waiting for this for over two years. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| "It is a victory for thousands, bringing overwhelming relief to desperate people across the country. | "It is a victory for thousands, bringing overwhelming relief to desperate people across the country. |
| "Finally the torment faced by elderly people forced to either spend their life savings on private treatment or go blind, is over." | "Finally the torment faced by elderly people forced to either spend their life savings on private treatment or go blind, is over." |
| Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) comes in two forms - wet and dry - with the dry form being much more common. However, the wet type is more aggressive and is responsible for about 90% of blindness caused by the condition. | Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) comes in two forms - wet and dry - with the dry form being much more common. However, the wet type is more aggressive and is responsible for about 90% of blindness caused by the condition. |
| Almost 20,000 people a year are diagnosed with wet AMD in England. | Almost 20,000 people a year are diagnosed with wet AMD in England. |
| NICE chief executive Andrew Dillon described Lucentis as an expensive drug - it costs more than £10,000 for each eye treated. | NICE chief executive Andrew Dillon described Lucentis as an expensive drug - it costs more than £10,000 for each eye treated. |
| But he added: "That cost needs to be balanced against the likely cost savings. | But he added: "That cost needs to be balanced against the likely cost savings. |
| "AMD results in reduced quality of life and increased risks of illness, particularly in relation to accidents, and psychological ill-health." | "AMD results in reduced quality of life and increased risks of illness, particularly in relation to accidents, and psychological ill-health." |
| Mr Dillon said the cost-sharing deal could potentially mean significant savings for the NHS. | Mr Dillon said the cost-sharing deal could potentially mean significant savings for the NHS. |
| He expressed sympathy for PCTs facing pressure to fund many different expensive drugs from finite budgets. | He expressed sympathy for PCTs facing pressure to fund many different expensive drugs from finite budgets. |
| Mr Dillon defended the length of time it took NICE to reach a final decision, but said it was important all parties had the opportunity to have their say. | Mr Dillon defended the length of time it took NICE to reach a final decision, but said it was important all parties had the opportunity to have their say. |
| However, he said: "I am genuinely sorry that it has taken us so long to get to this point. Lessons could be learned by everybody involved." | However, he said: "I am genuinely sorry that it has taken us so long to get to this point. Lessons could be learned by everybody involved." |
| Do you have age-related macular degeneration? Do you have a relative suffering with this problem? What does this decision mean to you? | Do you have age-related macular degeneration? Do you have a relative suffering with this problem? What does this decision mean to you? |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |