XML Feed for RxPG News   Add RxPG News Headlines to My Yahoo!   Javascript Syndication for RxPG News

Research Health World General
 
  Home
 
 Latest Research
 Cancer
 Psychiatry
 Genetics
 Surgery
 Aging
 Ophthalmology
 Gynaecology
 Neurosciences
 Pharmacology
 Cardiology
 Obstetrics
 Infectious Diseases
 Respiratory Medicine
 Pathology
 Endocrinology
 Immunology
 Nephrology
 Gastroenterology
 Biotechnology
 Radiology
 Dermatology
 Microbiology
 Haematology
 Dental
 ENT
 Environment
 Embryology
 Orthopedics
 Metabolism
 Anaethesia
 Paediatrics
 Public Health
 Urology
 Musculoskeletal
 Clinical Trials
 Physiology
 Biochemistry
 Cytology
 Traumatology
 Rheumatology
 
 Medical News
 Health
 Opinion
 Healthcare
  UK
   NHS
  USA
  World
  India
  South Africa
  New Zealand
  Australia
  Canada Healthcare
  China Healthcare
  Africa
 Professionals
 Launch
 Awards & Prizes
 
 Careers
 Medical
 Nursing
 Dental
 
 Special Topics
 Euthanasia
 Ethics
 Evolution
 Odd Medical News
 Feature
 
 World News
 Tsunami
 Epidemics
 Climate
 Business
Search

Last Updated: Aug 19th, 2006 - 22:18:38

NHS Channel
subscribe to NHS newsletter

Medical News : Healthcare : UK : NHS

   DISCUSS   |   EMAIL   |   PRINT
NHS Confederation calls for debate on NHS drug costs
Sep 9, 2005, 15:49, Reviewed by: Dr.

�If the cost of implementation is greater than anticipated or if NICE issues unexpected guidance, that�s when PCTs face financial issues.�

 
The NHS Confederation is calling for an urgent debate on rapidly increasing NHS drug costs following today�s Audit Commission report about the financial implications of implementing NICE guidance on new medication and surgical procedures.

Dr Gill Morgan, Chief Executive of the Confederation which represents more than 90% of NHS organisations, says: �The annual cost to the NHS of complying with NICE guidance on new drugs and procedures is �800 million, but that�s just 10% of the total NHS drugs bill.

�Prescribing drugs cost the NHS �8 billion last year, an increase of 46% since 2000, and this rapid rise in the medication bill is a major cause of the financial pressures currently facing NHS organisations.

�Extra investment in the NHS is growing by an average of 7.4% a year in real terms but drug costs are rising even faster.

�That is why 85% of the NHS organisations who were questioned by the Audit Commission for its report said there wasn�t enough funding available for them to fully implement NICE�s guidance on new drugs and procedures.�

The Audit Commission acknowledges that the NHS is not given specific funding to implement NICE guidance and that �comprehensive implementation of all guidance across the NHS may not be possible as there may be competing priorities for funding locally�.

Dr Gill Morgan says: �Scientific advances mean that new and often expensive drugs are recommended for NHS use, which is clearly good news for patients and clinicians, but we urgently need a proper debate about how these drugs can be funded.�

Weaknesses in NHS financial management, rather than cost, are identified by the Audit Commission as the major barrier to implementation of NICE guidance.

Dr Gill Morgan says: �Financial planning and management can always be improved and we welcome NICE�s proposals to help NHS organisations.

�NICE guidance is published throughout the financial year and so PCTs are in the difficult position of trying to second guess NICE�s likely decisions when they are planning their annual budgets and set aside money they anticipate will be sufficient to implement their guidance.

�If the cost of implementation is greater than anticipated or if NICE issues unexpected guidance, that�s when PCTs face financial issues.�
 

- NHS Confederation
 

www.nhsconfed.org

 
Subscribe to NHS Newsletter
E-mail Address:

 

The NHS Confederation represents more than 90% of the organisations that make up the NHS throughout the UK. Its members include the majority of NHS trusts, foundation trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; NHS boards and special boards in Scotland; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.

Related NHS News

Mental health units should not be exempt from smoking ban
NHS may be buying surgical equipment unethically
Is it time to give NHS more independence?
Experts Comment on New Blood Pressure Guidelines
New Guideance will Result in Better Control of Hypertension - BPA
NHS care for older people is still patchy
NHS could save �78m by improving staff productivity
Have targets improved performance in the English NHS?
Denying Joint Replacements Based On Prejudice
NHS needs to do more to provide need based health care


For any corrections of factual information, to contact the editors or to send any medical news or health news press releases, use feedback form

Top of Page

 

© Copyright 2004 onwards by RxPG Medical Solutions Private Limited
Contact Us