28 May 2004
The body charged with ensuring NHS patients have equal access to the latest drugs and treatments has only partially succeeded in achieving its objective.
A report published on May 24 evaluated the implementation of National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance relating to 28 therapies. The report, commissioned by Nice itself, found that for 12 treatments, including those for Crohn's disease and childhood asthma, take-up had moved in line with Nice forecasts.
But the researchers also found that for another 12 treatments, including schizophrenia drugs and painkillers for arthritis, take-up was lagging behind what was expected.
Nice chief executive Andrew Dillon admitted that there was still variation in the take-up of institute guidelines but added that Nice's work had made many more treatments accessible to patients.
'There is an element of “Is the glass half full or half empty?”' he said. 'Hundreds of thousands of patients have benefited from Nice guidance but there is still variation. The NHS could do better and should do better.'
Although the institute is not formally responsible for ensuring that its guidance is implemented, it is going to recruit an executive director to oversee this.
'We believe that by working effectively, with the NHS and with our national partners, we can help the NHS to do even better,' Dillon added.
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