NICE welcomes plan to root out “ineffective” treatments

NICE has welcomed plans to help the NHS save money on “ineffective” treatments that do not improve patient care or represent poor value for money.

The regulatory body said it would prepare new guidance for ailments where common treatments are thought to be of dubious effectiveness or not cost effective – like giving children antibiotics for sore throats, even if many are likely to caused by viruses rather than bacteria.

Additionally, NICE will issue reminders to stop ineffective therapies, while ensuring patients know of their treatment options and entitlements.

Commissioning guides will also be issued to help commissioners calculate the costs of any changes in treatment, as well as setting down new benchmarks.

Andrew Dillon, NICE chief executive, said: “NICE already advises the NHS on when it should invest in new drugs and treatments that work well for patients.”

“It’s common sense for us to also advise the NHS on when it is appropriate to stop using treatments that don’t benefit patients or do not represent good value for money where there are better alternatives available,” he added.

The method by which NICE calculates its cost-effectiveness benefit analysis has come into question recently following the organisation’s decision not to approve acetylecholinesterase inhibitors for the treatment of mild, newly diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease.

Several pharmaceutical companies have criticised the decision, while Eisai has written to the Information Commissioner to force NICE to reveal its cost effectiveness calculation methods.

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