A former NHS-supporting MP is set to sue to get her required treatment. A warning to those who want a similar system here:
A former MP who is going blind is set to sue the NHS after it refused to give her a new drug that could help save her sight, it emerged yesterday.Veteran left-winger Alice Mahon has lost most of the sight in one eye while waiting for treatment.
The former Labour MP – and thorn in Tony Blair’s side – is now preparing to go to the High Court to make the Health Service pay for a drug that can help her.
(via Socialized Medicine)
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{ 2 comments }
Approving Lucentis will be opening Pandora’s box as far as treatment costs are concerned. It makes much more sense to use Avastin, which works well at a fraction of the cost.
The cost to our practice FOR THE DRUG ONLY with only one doctor providing Lucentis treatments is about $1 million dollars per year. This cost didn’t exist 2 years ago. Think how many additional doctors or other services could be funded for this amount Add in all the additional costs of office visits, mulitple repeated fluorescein angiograms, and repeated treatments and it is readily apparent that Lucentis funding will have to come at the expense of other programs or out-of-pocket to be afforded. Don’t think Lucentis cures macular degeneration either. It may be a good option, but most patients with wet degeneration, especially if advanced, will still have significant visual impairment even if the blood vessels regress.
I have to side with the NHS. Lucentis also was just found to have a 1.2% risk of stroke associated with its use. This is a very expensive medication, essentially a form of chemotherapy for the eye. The issue is economic resources. If I were the patient mentioned in the article, I would ask my doctor for the much cheaper Avastin, or pay out of pocket. A lawsuit will not bring back your sight.
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