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Monday, September 12th, 2005
New report says NHS Scotland could save thousands
of lives, avoid 80,000 bed days and more efficiently use health
resources.
Health innovation has an important part to play in managing the
burden of diabetes and CHD in Scotland; saving and improving the
quality of patients lives, according to a new economic report published
today.
The report, The Future Burden of CHD and Diabetes in Scotland:
The Value of Healthcare Innovation, by the independent economic
consultancy group NERA accesses how innovation in health care can
help to reduce the pressure on Scottish health care resources from
CHD and diabetes.
The report’s key findings include:
- Increased prescribing
of statins for CHD could save 4,000 lives over the next 5 years,
prevent over 2500 heart bypasses and over 3,000 angioplasties.
- Around
197,000 hospital bed days could be saved with the effective
use of medicines to treat CHD over the next 5 years
- The cost of CHD
in Scotland in 2005 is likely to be £1.8
billion and it is predicted to rise to £2.1 billion in 2025.
Almost £50 million could be saved with the increased use
of statins over 5 years.
- Tight management of Type 2 diabetes could save
over 91,000 bed days a year in 2025 and reduce hospital costs
by £41
million
- Scotland’s economy would save £78 million a
year in lost work days by intensive treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
The impact of these diseases on NHSScotland is substantial. Half
a million people in Scotland currently have CHD, and 180,000 people
require regular treatment costing NHSScotland £451 million.
Scotland also has the highest mortality rate from CHD in the UK,
with over 14,000 people having died of the disease in 2003. Around
162,000 people have been diagnosed with diabetes in Scotland equating
to 3.2 per cent of the population compared to 2.3 per cent for
the rest of the UK. The number of people affected by diabetes is
expected to rise to 350,000 by 2025.
Jim Eadie, Director of ABPI Scotland said, “Medicines play
an important role in offering people affected by CHD and diabetes
an improved quality of life as well as helping to reduce the pressure
on NHSScotland resources. It is essential that innovative medicines
are effectively used across the whole of Scotland to give every
patient the best possible outcome.”
The report recognises that Scotland’s ageing population,
lifestyle and diet affects the high prevalence of these diseases.
However the report points out that managing these diseases effectively
will improve the consequences for the patient, reducing the cost
to the health service and benefit the economy.
David Clark, Chief Executive of Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland
said, “In spite of recent progress CHD remains one of the
major causes of morbidity and mortality in Scotland. Innovations
in pharmaceuticals, improved medical care and lifestyle changes
all play a vital contribution to reducing the burden of CHD for
individuals and society.”
Audrey Birt, National Director Scotland of Diabetes UK said “Scotland
faces an increasing challenge from diabetes and its consequences
for individuals, NHSScotland and our society as a whole. It is
important that we remember that tight control of this disease,
as recommended by this report, will only be achieved through education,
information and support for those living with diabetes.”
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