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Letters to the Editor
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NHS funding
Difficult decisions on funding treatments
From Mrs K. Simister, MRPharmS
Your leading article “Not the way to run the NHS” (PJ, 27
May, p612), concerning the role of the national media in influencing
the uptake of medicines, was thought-provoking, although your case might
have been better served by a more considered argument.
In the current environment where people are more questioning of the treatment
they receive, and patient choice is given a high priority, it is not
too surprising that an individual patient should wish to obtain resources
for himself or herself as opposed to considering the good of the population.
Some commentators may put this into perspective, for example, the series
entitled “Inside the ethics committee” which has been recently
broadcast on Radio 4. However it is inevitable that the media will play
a prominent role in attempting to influence the uptake of new medicines.
Decisions on the provision of treatments within a publicly funded health
care system are always going to be complex. Questions need to be addressed
about the different, and sometimes conflicting, roles of local providers
and commissioners, national politicians, the pharmaceutical industry
and the public in ensuring we deliver optimal health care for our population,
while encouraging a strong research and manufacturing base in the UK
and Europe.
The NHS has had various systems in place for many years to address the
difficult decisions concerning funding of treatments. In less than two
years we shall probably see a reduction in the generous funding that
the NHS has received recently. It behoves all of us to consider how best
to address the provision of new and expensive treatments in a fair and
equitable manner. Commissioners and service providers can obtain information
to plan ahead for both new medicines and National Institute of Health
and Clinical Excellence guidance by accessing information both on the
NICE website, and those of organisations such as the National Prescribing
Centre, the United Kingdom Medicines Information Service and the National
Horizon Scanning Centre.
Katrina Simister
Chester
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal