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Anti-tumour Necrosis Therapy

Answer

Anti-tumour necrosis therapy is already commissioned at local level under arrangements that should cover the cost of patient attendances at outpatient clinics as well as any anti-tumour necrosis factor drugs (anti-TNF drugs). From 2006–07, payment by results will apply a national tariff to rheumatology out-patient clinics. The tariff will set the price for out-patient attendances and will exclude the additional cost of anti-TNF drugs, for which funding will continue to be negotiated locally. These arrangements are already operating in 2005–06 for national health service foundation trusts and other early implementers of payment by results.The cost of prescriptions dispensed in the community for the three anti-TNF drugs is shown in the table.

Cost of prescriptions dispensed for anti-TNF drugs, 2000–04
	Cost (£)
2000	12,000
2001	198,000
2002	327,000
2003	833,000
2004	2,312,000

However, the main use for these drugs was in hospitals. An estimate for 2004 costs for anti-TNF drugs dispensed in hospitals, based on a large sample of hospitals, is £71,658,000.Health bodies are obliged to fund, from general allocations, anti-TNF treatment for those with severe rheumatoid arthritis who meet the clinical guidelines set by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.The Department does not hold information on the number of people who have received anti-TNF treatments.We do not collect information on waiting lists for specific treatments.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

25552; 439 c1799-800W;439 c1801-2W

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Medical treatments Patients Arthritis