A policy submission was sent to the offices of the CMO and the Ministers of State, Tessa Jowell and Baroness Margaret Jay. It noted that some health authorities were refusing to fund alpha interferon due to its cost and belief it was of limited clinical effectiveness. Read more about A policy submission was sent to the offices of the CMO and the Ministers of State, Tessa Jowell and Baroness Margaret Jay. It noted that some health authorities were refusing to fund alpha interferon due to its cost and belief it was of limited clinical effectiveness.
Professor Sir Kenneth Calman stated: "The decision in early 1998 to provide central funds to make recombinant products more widely available was driven...by the understandable fear felt by haemophilia patients and their carers in the face of the unknown but theoretical risk of vCJD and against a background of infection with blood borne viruses." Read more about Professor Sir Kenneth Calman stated: "The decision in early 1998 to provide central funds to make recombinant products more widely available was driven...by the understandable fear felt by haemophilia patients and their carers in the face of the unknown but theoretical risk of vCJD and against a background of infection with blood borne viruses."
Professor Sir Kenneth Calman noted that the issues surrounding inability to access interferon treatment for Hepatitis C "were common across the NHS when new drugs or treatments emerged." Read more about Professor Sir Kenneth Calman noted that the issues surrounding inability to access interferon treatment for Hepatitis C "were common across the NHS when new drugs or treatments emerged."
Professor Sir Kenneth Calman noted that "The direction of policy seems then to have been set and did not change throughout 1997, including after the General Election of May 1997 and subsequent change of government." Read more about Professor Sir Kenneth Calman noted that "The direction of policy seems then to have been set and did not change throughout 1997, including after the General Election of May 1997 and subsequent change of government."
The Secretary of State suggested that "GPs should have a greater role in identifying, diagnosing, treating and referring HCV as appropriate, and that GP involvement should be secured..." Read more about The Secretary of State suggested that "GPs should have a greater role in identifying, diagnosing, treating and referring HCV as appropriate, and that GP involvement should be secured..."
John Horam noted that providing different treatment to people depending on how they were infected with Hepatitis C would be controversial. Read more about John Horam noted that providing different treatment to people depending on how they were infected with Hepatitis C would be controversial.
The annex to a submission regarding Hepatitis C noted: "Ministers have given commitments to help, including investigating alleged problems of access to Alpha Interferon for [haemophiliacs]. So far the few cases identified have been readily resolved." Read more about The annex to a submission regarding Hepatitis C noted: "Ministers have given commitments to help, including investigating alleged problems of access to Alpha Interferon for [haemophiliacs]. So far the few cases identified have been readily resolved."
It was recommended that the Department of Health did not issue any purchasing guidance as it may be read as giving "an implicit signal to purchasers about the priority to be attached to a particular condition or treatment" which purchasers would not welcome. Read more about It was recommended that the Department of Health did not issue any purchasing guidance as it may be read as giving "an implicit signal to purchasers about the priority to be attached to a particular condition or treatment" which purchasers would not welcome.
A final submission was sent to the office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, John Horam, highlighting the increased expectations of Hepatitis C treatment, particularly for those infected through receiving blood transfusions and blood products, following the lookback exercise. Read more about A final submission was sent to the office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, John Horam, highlighting the increased expectations of Hepatitis C treatment, particularly for those infected through receiving blood transfusions and blood products, following the lookback exercise.
Officials made the decision not to recommend issuing purchasing guidelines due to the likelihood the issue would have on health authorities. Read more about Officials made the decision not to recommend issuing purchasing guidelines due to the likelihood the issue would have on health authorities.