Evidence into practice: key therapeutic topics
February 17, 2012 by admin
What are the gaps between the evidence base for some important therapeutic areas and current prescribing data? The January MeReC bulletin from the National Prescribing Centre (NPC) is the first in a series of three highlighting some possible areas for action, starting with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), antibiotic prescribing (especially quinolones and cephalosporins), and high-dose inhaled corticosteroids in asthma.
For example, the prescribing data show wide variation in the volumes of NSAIDS being prescribed and in the proportion that are ibuprofen or naproxen. Prescribing of NSAIDs should be reviewed routinely, especially for high-risk groups, and most of this prescribing should be for low-dose ibuprofen or for naproxen.
Changes afoot for NICE/NPC
November 10, 2010 by admin
NICE is to lose its power to turn down new medicines for NHS use on the basis that they are too expensive for the benefits they offer, according to press reports. It will retain its role in producing guidelines but the NHS will move to a system of ‘value-based pricing’ to decide the costs of drugs, under government plans, with decisions taken by patients’ doctors and GP consortia. Lord Howe (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Quality - Lords) is reported to have told a trade body meeting in October that NICE was “somewhat redundant” when it came to cost-effectiveness decisions. The government’s White Paper set out NICE’s future role in developing quality standards in the future.
The news has received a mixed reaction, perhaps not surprisingly given the controversies over NICE’s role and decisions and the different interest groups involved.
The National Prescribing Centre (NPC) has announced that it is going to merge with NICE, that ministers have given approval, and that detailed discussions will start now with a view to the work being integrated by April 2011.
NPC launches non-medical prescribing support programme
May 1, 2009 by admin
The National Prescribing Centre (NPC) has launched a new programme to support non-medical prescribing (NMP).
The Department of Health has commissioned it to ‘assist in promoting and supporting the continued development of NMP, within prescribers’ competencies, through effective policy implementation, advice and promotion’, explains the NPC, which says it aims to increase recognition and understanding of NMP by better communications and to provide a resource of knowledge, information and advice.
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