12 REGULATORY & HEALTHCARE NEWS

Need for NICE asthma guidelines Government backing is needed if the British

Guidelines on Asthma Management and the new Royal College of Physicians (RCP) outcomes measures are to have a positive impact for the 3.4 million patients with asthma in the UK..

According to a report in Scrip, National Asthma Campaign survey results show that only 18 of the 70 health authorities that replied plan to include asthma in their health improvement programmes.

The National Asthma Campaign and the RCP have told Public Health Minister Tessa Jowell that there is an urgent need for national asthma treabnent guidelines endorsed by NICE* to eliminate 'postcode prescribing'. Unfortunately, asthma therapies are not among the drugs scheduled for appraisal by NICE in 1999 and through 2000.** • Nation41lnstitute for Clinical Excellence •• see PhannocoEconomics cl Outcomes News 225: 11, 14 Aug 1999; 8()()762927 and 226: 12, 21 Aug 1999: 800763015

Call for NICE asthma suidance. Scrip 2467: 3, '1:1 Aug 1999 ..".,..

PhaIlMCOEconomics & ClA:Ionw New" .. , .. No. 221