The Department of Health is currently reviewing the mechanism by which people with diabetes receive blood glucose monitoring products on prescription. This is an ongoing consultation which closes on 6th June 2006, details of which can be found at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/13/45/37/04134537.pdf
BIVDA would ask that anyone who is affected by the proposal in the consultation should respond directly to the Department of Health.
PARLIAMENTARY BRIEFING
Drug Tariff Consultation: £19m cuts threaten diabetes patient care
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
15% price cut proposal could severely reduce availability of products and services
A consultation was published on 8 May 2006 which proposes a 15% price cut for blood-glucose testing strips, effective as of 1 August 2006.
The Commercial Directorate of the Department of Health has ignored the possible implications for patient care and is intent on cutting £19 million from diabetes care.
BIVDA, the trade association for In Vitro Diagnostics companies which manufacture, research and develop blood-glucose testing products, has continually argued that any move that restricts the choice and aailability of products and services to patients will reduce concordance and lead to less efficient self-monitoring, more long-term complications and longer term costs for the NHS.
Despite these arguments, the consultation proposes substantial price reductions which could have the following implications:
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Some products (blood-glucose testing strips) may no longer be financially viable and
could be removed from the market meaning patients would have to change to a different product
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Industry could be forced to withdraw or cut back on the support services currently provided free of charge and the free testing-meters and other hardware
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Some products may have to be paid for by patients rather than the NHS
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Less money may be devoted to research and development for new and innovative products
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New technology available elsewhere in the world may not be introduced into the UK market as it may not be financially viable
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Fewer niche products may be developed and made available for specific groups of diabetes patients such as the elderly, young and blind
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Industry could be forced to cut back on the training currently provided for diabetes specialist professionals
The consultation closes on 6 June 2006 after which changes will be proposed which will come into effect on 1 August 2006.
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Drug Tariff Consultation (pdf) download now BIVDA Parliamentary Briefing |
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Drug Tariff Review Response (pdf) download now BIVDA's response to the Drug Tariff Review, June 2006 |
Questions & Answers:
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What are the changes being made to the drug tariff?
The Department of Health is proposing to push ahead with a 15% price cut for blood glucose strips. This results in £19m being cut from the budget which currently pays for blood glucose monitoring products which are vital in allowing people with diabetes to self manage their condition. Patients may also lose the £16.5m worth of free services currently offered to patients.
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How will the changes to the drug tariff affect people with diabetes?
People with diabetes may be forced to change glucose monitors if their local health authorities are forced to change the supplier of blood glucose strips. This may cause problems for the elderly or visually impaired who may need certain types of machines that are user-friendly.
The fixed process on the tariff and healthy competition have in the past allowed blood glucose strip providers to supply additional services such as free 24 hour telephone support lines and free blood glucose meters. People with diabetes may lose these additional services if the changes go ahead.
There is also the worry that diagnostic companies will pull their products out of the UK if the price cut brings the cost below their bottom selling price. Similarly the introduction of future innovations will be affected, leaving the UK as the “poor man of Europe” again.
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Why are these changes being made?
The Department of Health believes that the current reimbursement prices to the reagents suppliers may not represent value-for-money for either the NHS or taxpayers and so want to reduce the price by 15%. In line with their cost-cutting measures, the Department of Health is cutting money from the care of people with diabetes.
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When are these changes going to be implemented?
This is scheduled to come into effect on 1 August 2006. However, the consultation period set by the Department of Health is only one month long.
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How many people in the UK have diabetes?
More than 2m in the UK are known to have diabetes. That’s 3 in every 100 people. There are an estimated one million people in the UK who have diabetes but don't know it. Over three-quarters of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes.
If you would like more information on how you can help to protect services for diabetes patients please call: Doris-Ann Williams, BIVDA Tel: 020 7957 4633