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Pratchett criticises drugs ruling Pratchett criticises drugs ruling
(20 minutes later)
Author Terry Pratchett has criticised a decision to limit the drug Aricept through the NHS to people in the later stages of Alzheimer's disease.Author Terry Pratchett has criticised a decision to limit the drug Aricept through the NHS to people in the later stages of Alzheimer's disease.
He told the BBC's Panorama programme the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's ruling "feels like an insult" and needs a rethink.He told the BBC's Panorama programme the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's ruling "feels like an insult" and needs a rethink.
NICE decided the drug was not cost-effective in the early stages.NICE decided the drug was not cost-effective in the early stages.
Pratchett, who has sold 55 million books worldwide, has PCA, a rare early-onset form of the disease.Pratchett, who has sold 55 million books worldwide, has PCA, a rare early-onset form of the disease.
He was diagnosed with PCA, which affects the back of the brain and therefore vision and motor skills, in December 2007.He was diagnosed with PCA, which affects the back of the brain and therefore vision and motor skills, in December 2007.
I feel particularly angry on behalf of early onset patients because it feels like an insult and the younger you are the more insulting it is Terry Pratchett Speaking to Panorama for its programme The NHS Postcode Lottery - It Could be You, he said his doctor told him about Aricept straight after he was diagnosed, but she initially said she could not prescribe it for him.I feel particularly angry on behalf of early onset patients because it feels like an insult and the younger you are the more insulting it is Terry Pratchett Speaking to Panorama for its programme The NHS Postcode Lottery - It Could be You, he said his doctor told him about Aricept straight after he was diagnosed, but she initially said she could not prescribe it for him.
"I didn't have a specialist at that time and so I was a bit in limbo," he said. "I think she took pity and sort of did it.""I didn't have a specialist at that time and so I was a bit in limbo," he said. "I think she took pity and sort of did it."
Difficult routeDifficult route
He now pays for his Aricept, which is prescribed to him by a specialist in Bath, but is highly critical of the Byzantine route he had to take to get the drugs he says he needs:He now pays for his Aricept, which is prescribed to him by a specialist in Bath, but is highly critical of the Byzantine route he had to take to get the drugs he says he needs:
It isn't the right decision for the health service to make treatment available until patients as they inevitably will, move into the moderate stage of the disease Andrew Dillon, Chief Executive NICEIt isn't the right decision for the health service to make treatment available until patients as they inevitably will, move into the moderate stage of the disease Andrew Dillon, Chief Executive NICE
"It's probably easier to get drugs off Fat Charlie round the back of the bus station than it is to get medicines - but there we are," he told Panorama."It's probably easier to get drugs off Fat Charlie round the back of the bus station than it is to get medicines - but there we are," he told Panorama.
The head of NICE, Andrew Dillon, told Panorama: "The evidence is absolutely clear that the extent of the benefits and the numbers of patients involved as such, that it isn't the right decision for the health service to make treatment available until patients, as they inevitably will, move into the moderate stage of the disease." The head of NICE, Andrew Dillon, told Panorama: "The evidence is absolutely clear."
"The extent of the benefits and the numbers of patients involved" meant the NHS should not give the drug to patients before they, "as they inevitably will, move into the moderate stage of the disease", he said.
Recommendation reversedRecommendation reversed
NICE guidance in 2001 recommended the drug - which can make it easier to carry out everyday tasks - should be used as standard.NICE guidance in 2001 recommended the drug - which can make it easier to carry out everyday tasks - should be used as standard.
But revised advice published in November 2006, stated that Aricept should only be prescribed to people with moderate-stage disease.But revised advice published in November 2006, stated that Aricept should only be prescribed to people with moderate-stage disease.
The drug Aricept costs about £2.50 per dayThe drug Aricept costs about £2.50 per day
NICE said that Aricept, which costs about £2.50 a day, does not make enough of a difference to recommend it for all patients and therefore is not good value for money. NICE said that Aricept, which costs about £2.50 a day, did not make enough of a difference to recommend it for all patients and therefore was not good value for money.
Pratchett acknowledges that through his success as an author - his Discworld series has sold 55 million books worldwide - he is easily able to afford to Aricept.Pratchett acknowledges that through his success as an author - his Discworld series has sold 55 million books worldwide - he is easily able to afford to Aricept.
But he is concerned for other people with Alzheimer's who lack his means: But he is concerned for other people with Alzheimer's who lack his means.
"I feel particularly angry on behalf of early onset patients because it feels like an insult and the younger you are the more insulting it is," he says. "A lot of people with early onset have got dependents both younger and older and they're trying to hold down a job." "I feel particularly angry on behalf of early onset patients because it feels like an insult and the younger you are the more insulting it is," he says.
"A lot of people with early onset have got dependents both younger and older and they're trying to hold down a job."
"It is a really nasty disease and I cannot imagine cancer patients being denied a drug like this in similar circumstances," Pratchett added."It is a really nasty disease and I cannot imagine cancer patients being denied a drug like this in similar circumstances," Pratchett added.
Fear factorFear factor
He says that he has noticed a huge change in his since condition he started taking Aricept: He says that he has noticed a huge change in his condition since he started taking Aricept.
"If I'm not on the drug I'd find certain things difficult, doing up buttons so you get a line of buttons in the shirt done up right can be a problem," he said."If I'm not on the drug I'd find certain things difficult, doing up buttons so you get a line of buttons in the shirt done up right can be a problem," he said.
Alzheimer's mainly affects older peopleAlzheimer's mainly affects older people
"In theory I should be that much worse, but my wife has said that I'm better now than I was in the autumn.""In theory I should be that much worse, but my wife has said that I'm better now than I was in the autumn."
But Pratchett says that the advantages of taking the drug are wider than that.But Pratchett says that the advantages of taking the drug are wider than that.
"Alzheimer's scares people and at four o'clock in the morning it scares me, and Aricept is well worth having for the relief that it brings.""Alzheimer's scares people and at four o'clock in the morning it scares me, and Aricept is well worth having for the relief that it brings."
He said that the decision to not give it to early stage sufferers, but to provide free treatment for obesity and sexual impotence indicates the NHS "priorities are not right".He said that the decision to not give it to early stage sufferers, but to provide free treatment for obesity and sexual impotence indicates the NHS "priorities are not right".
And the author also told Panorama that he thinks it is possible that NICE's decision was in part shaped by the fact that Alzheimer's is a disease predominantly affecting older people, whom he says are thought of as "a softer target".And the author also told Panorama that he thinks it is possible that NICE's decision was in part shaped by the fact that Alzheimer's is a disease predominantly affecting older people, whom he says are thought of as "a softer target".
Panorama: The Postcode Lottery: It Could Be You will be on BBC One at 8.30pm on Monday 18 August.Panorama: The Postcode Lottery: It Could Be You will be on BBC One at 8.30pm on Monday 18 August.