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Monday, June 14, 2004
Government moves to ensure that recommendations by the National
Institute for Clinical Excellence are put into practice by all health
authorities in England and Wales have been warmly welcomed by the
pharmaceutical industry.
Today's announcement by Health Secretary John Reid follows on the
back of a report by the National Cancer Director showing that there
are unacceptably high variations across the country in the uptake
of cancer medicines approved by NICE. The pharmaceutical industry
has long argued that, despite guidance issued by NICE, patients
in many areas of the country are still be denied treatments that
are available to others.
"All our evidence has been that, sadly, postcode prescribing
is still alive and well in England and Wales," said Dr Trevor
Jones, Director General of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical
Industry (ABPI).
"NICE was set up to eliminate wholly unacceptable variations
in prescribing practice, yet it has long been clear that its efforts
have had little effect in ensuring that patients are given the best,
most appropriate medicines for their condition.
"It is excellent news for patients that the Government has
now recognised the continuing problem and is taking steps to improve
the situation. We all have to hope that the measures announced today
will finally resolve the issue of postcode prescribing."
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