INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH & OPINION

Regulatory and Healthcare News

NHS standards watchdog launched in UK

The new standards watchdog for the UK National Health Service (NHS) - the UK Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) - began operating at the start of this month. 1

It will review the provision of care in priority areas such as cancer, coronary heart disease and mental health in England and Wales. Cancer care will be the first area to be reviewed.

NICE guidelines programme announced Meanwhile, the UK National Institute for Clinical

Excellence (NICE) has announced its first clinical guidelines programme.2 Clinical guidelines for the following areas will be produced: type 2 diabetes mellitus, early pharmacological management of schizophrenia, the National Cancer Group Programme and multiple sclerosis.

The programme was derived from 'a cartiful scrutiny of subjects that are likely to have significant impact on the NHS' , says NICE.

Generics shortage inquity The UK government has also asked the House

of Commons Health Select Committee, the Office of Fair Trading and Oxford economist Dr Dieter Helm to determine why there continues to be a shortage of generics at the Drug Tariff price in the UK. 3 The generics manufacturers' association, the BGMA, is reported to be 'delighted' at the news. 1. CHI begins scrutiny of UK NHS provision. Scrip 2488: 7.10 Nov 1999 2. UK NICE sets out guidelines programme. Scrip 2488: 6, 10 Nov 1999 3. UK generics inquiries get underway. Scrip 2488: 4-5, 10 Nov 1999

New reimbwsement criteria for France

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The French government has published new criteria for determining the reimbursement status of pharma­ceutical products, reports Scrip. The new criteria are to ensure that products are only reimbursed if they offer 'medical service' or cost benefits; the level of reimbursement will reflect the extent of these benefits.

The scale used by France's Transparency Commission to decide on reimbursement status - the ASMR scale - will take into account more factors than before. For example, as well as efficacy and safety, the ASMR will now assess: the product's place in the treatment strategy; the seriousness of the disease; the preventive, curative or palliative effects of the product; and its impact on public health.

1173-5503199/0239-000111$01.00° Adls International LlmItecl1999. All rights reserved

Products will not be listed or relisted for reimbursement if: they do not have a clinical or economic benefit; they could cause an 'unjustified' rise in healthcare consumption or spending; or their price is considered to be too high. French get tough on reimbursement Scrip 2488: 2, 10 Nov 1999 8007119938

PhannacoEconomics & Outcomes News 20 Nov 1999 No. 239

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