Greater transparency and accountability on drug decisions essential- Burstow

12.00.00am GMT Wed 5th Nov 2008

Sutton and Cheam MP, Paul Burstow, yesterday (Tuesday 4th November) tackled the Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson about the need for greater transparency surrounding the decisions that NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) makes.

Recently Paul Burstow welcomed the landmark ruling in the House of Lords that will force NICE to explain why certain drugs to treat Alzheimer's are restricted on the NHS.

However, he insisted that in order to help tackle health inequalities, there is a greater need to for all aspects of NICE's decision making to be made public.

Commenting after the exchange, Mr Burstow said:

"Alan Johnson agreed with me that there is a need for greater transparency across the board - from NICE to local Primary Care Trusts - on what decisions are made about access to drugs.

"It is wrong that in this day and age people are not told the reasons why life enhancing drugs are being denied to them.

"I will continue to fight for greater openness and accountability in what amount to rationing decisions. No one should be told that their quality of life is not cost effective for the NHS."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The full text of Mr Burstow's question is as follows:

Mr. Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam) (LD): In tackling health inequalities, particularly regarding access to new drugs and treatment, does the Secretary of State agree that we should have a system that is far more transparent about NICE decisions, so that it is more accountable, and that the models used in appraisal decisions should be published?

Alan Johnson: We need greater transparency in all aspects of the process. The greatest transparency-I shall say more about this later-comes in the decisions of PCTs' exceptional circumstances committees where NICE has not ruled on a drug, and where there is a lack of transparency and consistency. That is the major problem, and we shall consider some of the issues relating to NICE that arose from a recent case. In a sense, the matter the hon. Gentleman raises is second on the agenda.

The debate can be read in full here:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm081104/debtext/81104-0001.htm <http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm081104/debtext/81104-0001.htm>

Later the Secretary of State made a statement, and Mr Burstow asked the following question:

Mr. Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam) (LD): Speedier NICE appraisal decisions are essential but they are not sufficient. We also need more transparency and accountability in NICE decisions. In the light of the Law Lords' decision to refuse permission to NICE to go to appeal on the dementia drug case decision, will the Secretary of State now put it beyond doubt that he expects NICE to place all the models it uses in respect of decisions on appraisals into the public domain?

Alan Johnson: That is an issue for NICE. It needs to comply with the court judgment. This is not the end of the story about NICE, as I hope to make fresh announcements early in the new year. Perhaps we will return to the subject then.