Anger as NICE says no to Alzheimer’s appeal

The panel have decided not to change the original guidance of the Appraisal Committee, stating that Alzheimer's drugs should only be prescribed to people in the 'moderate' stages of the disease, and not in the early or later stages.

The panel has failed to address the points the Society raised in our appeal:

• The decision does not take into account the benefits to carers.
• The expected increase in the prescription of dangerous, unlicensed sedative drugs if Alzheimer's drugs are not available.
• The decision contradicts the Government's established policies on early intervention and maintaining independence.
• Relying on the Mini-Mental State Examination to determine eligibility for the drugs is unfair - the MMSE discriminates against people because of their language and education.
• NICE has used inaccurate data on the costs of full-time care.
• NICE's economic model is not able to measure quality of life in dementia.

Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, says,

'What sort of society have we become when the health of hundreds of thousands are sold to save just £2.50 a day? This blatant cost cutting will rob people of priceless time early in the disease and later clinicians will have no choice but to use dangerous sedatives that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. This is victimisation of the most vulnerable in society.'