Alcohol 'should have calorie labels'

31 October 2014 Last updated at 00:10 By James Gallagher Health editor, BBC News website

Alcohol should have a calorie content label in order to reduce obesity, according to public health doctors.

The doctors warn a large glass of wine can contain around 200 calories - the same as a doughnut.

Yet the Royal Society for Public Health says the vast majority of people are blissfully unaware.

Public Health Minister Jane Ellison said "great strides" had been made with labelling food, and that the government will look at the issue.

The drinks industry said it was open to the idea of calorie labels, but that labelling drinks with units of alcohol was more important.

The UK is one of the most obese nations in the world with about a quarter of adults classed as obese.

'Startling'

Food already comes with calorie information, but alcohol is exempt from EU food labelling laws.

And the European Commission is considering whether drinks should also carry such information.

Research by the Royal Society for Public Health suggested the measure would be popular with British drinkers.

The RSPH's chief executive, Shirley Cramer, told the BBC: "Quite startling really - 80% of adults have no idea what the calorie count is in anything they're drinking and if they do think they have an idea they totally underestimate it anyway.

"It could help the nation's waistlines as well as probably reduce alcohol consumption."

In a small pub experiment conducted by the society, people who were told the calories content of their drink consumed 400 fewer calories in a session.

How many calories

• A large 250ml glass of 8% wine is 170 calories
• The same amount of 14% wine is 230 calories
• A 275ml alcopop can be 170 calories
• A pint of 4% beer is more than 180 calories
• Four pints on a night out equates of two-and-a-half burgers or 73 minutes of running
• In comparison a sugary doughnut comes in around 200 calories

Source: Royal Society for Public Health, Drinkaware

Estimates suggest 10% of an adult's calorie intake comes from alcohol.

Gram for gram it is the second most calorie-dense source of energy, just behind fat.

'Open to discussion'

The Portman Group, which represents drinks manufacturers, said it took the health consequences of drinking "very seriously" and provided calorie information on the Drinkaware website.

In a statement it said: "Drinks producers can play a key role in informing and educating consumers and are open to further discussions about calorie information.

"However, it is essential that alcohol content, not calorie content, should primarily inform consumer decision-making."

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Brendan O'Donnell says cutting down on alcohol helped him lose more than 11 stone

Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, said the government had been dragging its feet on the issue.

"A calorie-count on wine and beer bottles can't come soon enough.

"Just one premium lager contains by itself contains enough calories for a small meal and, added to the meal itself, eats up a chunk of anyone's maximum allowance."

Ms Ellison said: "It is very positive to see that people want more information to help them lead a healthier life.

"We have made great strides in food labelling and customers can see at a glance the calories they are consuming on many products.

"While it is already possible for alcohol producers and retailers to display calorie content on their labels, we will continue to look at what else can be done to help people make healthier lifestyle choices."

Jackie Ballard, the chief executive of Alcohol Concern, said: "Much more needs to be done to raise awareness of both the contents and the harms which can be caused by alcohol.

"You walk into any shop and the calorie, fat content, sugar and more are on the back of food packets and we don't see why alcohol should be any different."

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Some ethnic groups 'less cancer aware'

1 November 2014 Last updated at 01:56 By Smitha Mundasad Health reporter, BBC News

Black and South Asian people in England are less aware of the warning signs of cancer than white people, according to research led by King's College London.

The study of nearly 50,000 people found those with a black ethnic background were least likely to recognise a persistent cough as a possible symptom.

And South Asians reported more than others that embarrassment could stop them seeking medical help.

The research is being presented at England's largest cancer conference.

Continue reading the main story

We need to target different gaps in awareness to give people the same chances of beating cancer regardless of ethnic background"

End Quote Maja Niksic King's College London

People across England were asked a series of face-to-face or telephone questions about the signs and symptoms of cancer and how likely they were to speak to doctors if they had concerns.

Questions included:

• Could you state the symptoms of cancer that you know of?

• Are unexplained weight loss and unexplained lumps or swellings signs of cancer?

A team of researchers from eight English universities found black, South Asian and people who identified themselves as 'other ethnic group' were less likely to recognise all cancer symptoms included in the questionnaire than white respondents.

While 93% of white participants said a change in the appearance of a mole could indicate the presence of cancer, just 72% of black people and 70% of South Asians recognised this as a potential sign.

And black and South Asian groups were four times less likely to recognise an unexpected lump or swelling as a possible warning of cancer.

In terms of barriers to seeking help, a quarter of white people said they would be worried about wasting a doctor's time, compared to 19% of South Asians and 16% in the black ethnic group.

Sara Hiom at Cancer Research UK said: "Thousands of people beat cancer every year and treatment is more likely to be successful when cancer is diagnosed in the earliest stages.

"Getting to know your body and what's normal for you will help you spot anything unusual or persistent."

Right message

Lead researcher, Maja Niksic, said: "Evidence suggests people of minority ethnic backgrounds have poorer survival rates for certain cancers and they are more likely to present when the tumour is advanced.

"We need to find ways to present the right health messages to target different needs and different gaps in awareness to give people the same chance of beating cancer regardless of ethnic background."

The authors say previous studies suggested poverty and employment levels could contribute to lower awareness among certain groups.

But when they took socioeconomic status, age, education, employment and gender into account, the results did not change.

Participants were asked to choose from the following categories: black (included black African, black Caribbean, black other), white (white British, white Irish and any other white), South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and other South Asian) and other (Chinese and mixed ethnicities).

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

UN chief defends Ebola aid workers

31 October 2014 Last updated at 18:31

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon says aid workers dealing with the Ebola crisis are "exceptional people"

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has said discrimination against aid workers who return home from the Ebola crisis in West Africa is "unacceptable".

Strict quarantine rules are hampering aid efforts when more health workers are needed in order to deal with the crisis, he told BBC News in Nairobi.

International efforts have been insufficient but are now "catching up", the UN secretary general added.

"We have been really trying to mobilise in a massive way," he said.

Mr Ban told the BBC's Dennis Okari that the World Health Organization (WHO) and scientists around the world were trying to develop vaccines.

The UN's main objectives included stopping the virus, finding a treatment and preventing the spread of Ebola, he said.

'Rising anxiety'

The medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned on Thursday that some mandatory US state Ebola quarantine measures were having a "chilling effect" on its work.

"There is rising anxiety and confusion among staff members in the field over what they may face when they return home upon completion of their assignments in West Africa," executive director Sophie Delaunay, told Reuters news agency.

One of the charity's volunteers defied orders by the US state of Maine that she remain quarantined in her house after being in Sierra Leone.

The nurse, Kaci Hickox, who recently returned to the US from treating Ebola patients in Africa, argued that the measure contravened her civil rights as she does not have the virus.

In what her lawyer called "a terrific win", a judge has now ruled simply that she should co-ordinate travel with officials so that she can continue to be monitored, and she must report any symptoms.

"I am very satisfied by the decision," Ms Hickox told reporters, praising a "good compromise" that "offers human treatment to health care workers coming back".

US President Barack Obama has warned that overly restrictive measures could discourage volunteering in West Africa.

In other developments:

• A UK ship arrived in Sierra Leone carrying food, medical equipment and 32 pick-up trucks to help keep hard-pressed Ebola treatment centres in operation
• Speaking in Brussels after a trip to West Africa, US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said the world must do more to confront "the greatest public health crisis ever"
• North Korea instituted a 21-day quarantine for any foreign national arriving from any country
• The World Bank said it would immediately provide $100m to fund the deployment of more health workers to West Africa

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Alcohol 'should have calorie labels'

31 October 2014 Last updated at 00:10 By James Gallagher Health editor, BBC News website

Alcohol should have a calorie content label in order to reduce obesity, according to public health doctors.

The doctors warn a large glass of wine can contain around 200 calories - the same as a doughnut.

Yet the Royal Society for Public Health says the vast majority of people are blissfully unaware.

Public Health Minister Jane Ellison said "great strides" had been made with labelling food, and that the government will look at the issue.

The drinks industry said it was open to the idea of calorie labels, but that labelling drinks with units of alcohol was more important.

The UK is one of the most obese nations in the world with about a quarter of adults classed as obese.

'Startling'

Food already comes with calorie information, but alcohol is exempt from EU food labelling laws.

And the European Commission is considering whether drinks should also carry such information.

Research by the Royal Society for Public Health suggested the measure would be popular with British drinkers.

The RSPH's chief executive, Shirley Cramer, told the BBC: "Quite startling really - 80% of adults have no idea what the calorie count is in anything they're drinking and if they do think they have an idea they totally underestimate it anyway.

"It could help the nation's waistlines as well as probably reduce alcohol consumption."

In a small pub experiment conducted by the society, people who were told the calories content of their drink consumed 400 fewer calories in a session.

How many calories

• A large 250ml glass of 8% wine is 170 calories
• The same amount of 14% wine is 230 calories
• A 275ml alcopop can be 170 calories
• A pint of 4% beer is more than 180 calories
• Four pints on a night out equates of two-and-a-half burgers or 73 minutes of running
• In comparison a sugary doughnut comes in around 200 calories

Source: Royal Society for Public Health, Drinkaware

Estimates suggest 10% of an adult's calorie intake comes from alcohol.

Gram for gram it is the second most calorie-dense source of energy, just behind fat.

'Open to discussion'

The Portman Group, which represents drinks manufacturers, said it took the health consequences of drinking "very seriously" and provided calorie information on the Drinkaware website.

In a statement it said: "Drinks producers can play a key role in informing and educating consumers and are open to further discussions about calorie information.

"However, it is essential that alcohol content, not calorie content, should primarily inform consumer decision-making."

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Brendan O'Donnell says cutting down on alcohol helped him lose more than 11 stone

Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, said the government had been dragging its feet on the issue.

"A calorie-count on wine and beer bottles can't come soon enough.

"Just one premium lager contains by itself contains enough calories for a small meal and, added to the meal itself, eats up a chunk of anyone's maximum allowance."

Ms Ellison said: "It is very positive to see that people want more information to help them lead a healthier life.

"We have made great strides in food labelling and customers can see at a glance the calories they are consuming on many products.

"While it is already possible for alcohol producers and retailers to display calorie content on their labels, we will continue to look at what else can be done to help people make healthier lifestyle choices."

Jackie Ballard, the chief executive of Alcohol Concern, said: "Much more needs to be done to raise awareness of both the contents and the harms which can be caused by alcohol.

"You walk into any shop and the calorie, fat content, sugar and more are on the back of food packets and we don't see why alcohol should be any different."

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Why scratching 'intensifies itching'

30 October 2014 Last updated at 17:14

Research into itching has indicated why scratching can paradoxically make you feel more itchy.

A study in mice found that "scratch cycles" get harder and harder to break because of serotonin released into the system.

The research, which has not been tested in humans, indicates that blocking specific serotonin receptors in the spine could reduce chronic itching.

Dermatologists said the research could help towards effective itch control.

Itchy and scratchy

Itchiness can be caused by a number of factors, ranging from very minor irritation by dust and small hairs to serious skin conditions.

One of the purposes of scratching is to produce pain. This disrupts the itch by getting nerves to carry pain signals instead of itch signals.

The pain causes the "happy" neurotransmitter serotonin to be released by the brain, to control the pain.

But the serotonin then activates spinal cord nerve cells that control itch intensity when it reaches the spine, according to Prof Zhou-Feng Chen, director of Washington University's Center for the Study of Itch.

"In mice, there is a vicious itching [and] scratching cycle," Prof Chen said. "If you reduce the serotonin the itchy intensity reduces."

Pain barrier

Prof Chen said it was not feasible to block serotonin release, because that could have wide-ranging consequences. Serotonin is involved in growth, ageing, bone metabolism and in regulating mood.

The research indicated that one of the most promising ways of controlling chronic itching is to disrupt the interaction between serotonin and cells that relay itch signals to the brain, Prof Chen added.

A spokesman for the British Association of Dermatologists said the research could help better understanding of the itch mechanism, and ultimately could help the development of treatments for chronic itching.

"More effective ways of managing itch... would be hugely comforting for people with a wide range of conditions," he said.

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Genes 'play role in Ebola survival'

31 October 2014 Last updated at 00:36

Genetic factors could play an important role in whether people survive the Ebola virus, say US scientists.

A study of mice infected with the virus found they showed a number of different symptoms, with 19% remaining unaffected by the disease.

This could explain why some people recover from the illness while others die in pain, the scientists said.

Their study is published in the journal Science.

Scientists from the universities of Washington and North Carolina, and the National Institute of Health in Montana, examined mice they had infected with the same species of Ebola virus causing the current outbreak in West Africa.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

It may not be necessary to completely eliminate Ebola virus from the body during infection to ensure that there is no disease"

End Quote Prof Andrew Easton University of Warwick

Although all the mice lost weight in the first few days after infection, nearly one in five regained that weight within two weeks and showed no evidence of the disease.

But 70% of the mice became very ill, some showing signs of liver inflammation and a larger group having blood that took too long to clot.

These mice also had internal bleeding, swollen spleens and changes in liver colour.

They also had a greater than 50% chance of dying from the disease.

Host's genes

Angela Rasmussen, from the Katze Laboratory at the University of Washington, said the different ways in which the mice were affected mirrored the variety of symptoms seen in humans in the 2014 outbreak.

Recent Ebola survivors could have had immunity to this virus or a related virus which may have saved them, for example.

This would have meant the disease reacting in a particular way to a host's genes, which is seen with many other viruses.

Andrew Easton, professor of virology at the University of Warwick, said the study provided valuable information, but the data could not be directly applied to humans because they have a much larger variety of genetic combinations than mice.

He added: "The paper also does not assess the role of environmental factors that undoubtedly also play a role in the disease process such as the underlying health status of the at-risk population."

However, Prof Easton said the data suggested that "it may not be necessary to completely eliminate Ebola virus from the body during infection to ensure that there is no disease, and that reduction of virus growth in the body may offer alleviation from some aspects of the disease".

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

It will be important to see if a similar phenomenon is happening in humans"

End Quote Prof Jonathan Ball University of Nottingham

This suggests new treatments may not have to be as thorough as initially expected, he said.

'Intriguing'

Prof Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, said some of the study's discoveries regarding blood clotting were interesting.

"In this mouse model study, the finding that levels of expression of a gene involved in coagulation differs between mice showing different severity of disease symptoms is really intriguing.

"Of course, this is merely an association and needs to be explored more to know definitively how expression is controlled and how it might influence disease.

Prof Ball added: "It will also be important to see if a similar phenomenon is happening in humans."

Another study published in Science, on how best to stop the transmission of the Ebola virus, concluded that funerals were "super-spreader events".

Researchers from Yale University, Oregon State University and Liberia, said funeral practices - which often involve washing, touching and kissing of the bodies - had to end in order to bring the disease under control.

They also said aggressive steps should also be taken "to isolate cases and and better protect healthcare workers".

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

UK national sperm bank starts work

30 October 2014 Last updated at 01:00 By James Gallagher Health editor, BBC News website

A UK national sperm bank - charged with reversing a growing shortage of donor sperm - has started work in Birmingham.

Fertility clinics have become increasingly dependent on imported sperm giving rise to the so-called "Viking babies" phenomenon.

Meanwhile, data from the fertility regulator shows a 10th of IVF cycles are dependent on donated sperm or eggs.

And a third of procedures using donated material were for same-sex couples or single women.

The number of UK-based sperm donors has been increasing since 2004. However, demand has increased even faster.

Denmark and the United States have become major suppliers of sperm to British women.

Banking

The Department of Health has given £77,000 to fund a national sperm bank which will be based at Birmingham Women's Hospital.

There will be a corresponding campaign to "change the face" of sperm donation, which will be run by the National Gamete Donation Trust.

Sperm donors in the UK are mostly white, which leaves people from other ethnicities struggling to find a donor.

The project will start in Birmingham before being extending to cover the whole country.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Mother to one-year-old twins Abi explains how she needed a Danish sperm donor

Dr Sue Avery, the director of the Birmingham Women's Fertility Centre, told the BBC News website: "The idea of the campaign is to focus on sperm donation as a tremendously positive thing to do and that the men who do this are very special.

"They're helping to build families.

"We're spending this money to start something that we hope will grow to the point where nobody has to import sperm."

Eventually the national bank could act like a "brokerage house" that connects donors in one part of the country with those in need elsewhere.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority said the proportion of imported donor sperm was increasing every year.

"In part this is because the time and resources needed to recruit UK donors can sometimes make importation more viable," the body said.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Chief Executive of the new sperm bank Laura Witjens: "We want sperm donors to be very proud of what they do"

People who need donated sperm included men who have had cancer treatment or had a genetic defect leaving them incapable of producing sperm.

The HFEA data also shows a rising number of women who are single or who have a female partner receiving treatment with donated sperm.

Growing problem

Dr Allan Pacey, the chair of the British Fertility Society, told the BBC: "We are importing as a nation more and more sperm from overseas, without being xenophobic it kind of just doesn't feel right, it's a problem that's not going away."

He argued simple economics could make it easier to import sperm than increase the number of donors.

But said the practice created problems such as making it much harder for children to meet their biological parents if they lived half a world away.

"Also I think there will always be some patients who, with regards to sperm donors, will want an individual that is more closely related to them in culture and language and outlook."

He added that sperm donation needed to become more ethnically diverse and it made sense to start the bank in multicultural Birmingham.

Jimmy, a 22-year old sperm donor from Coventry

I've gone to the Birmingham clinic about twice a month for the past nine months.

I initially started doing it because I had a friend who was struggling to have children and it made me want to help. I want to help other people, some who really go through it. I just think why not?

Obviously you are concerned but I have faith if someone has gone through this to have children they will go to the effort to make sure they have a good life.

I don't think of [babies conceived from my sperm] as my children as I think the parent is the person who brings them up.

I don't feel an emotional bond [to the children]. At my age now I don't know I would be a good parent.

Why choose Birmingham?

Laura Witjens, the chief executive of the National Gamete Donor Trust, said: "When people think of sperm donation they often only think about the physical act of producing sperm.

"Let's face it that can be off-putting and detract from the real issues. We're all set to change that outlook.

"Sperm donors are very special men who are doing something they and their families can be exceptionally proud of.

"These are men who are doing something life-changing for themselves and for others. It's time to shout about how fantastic these guys are."

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Care plan 'to ease hospital pressure'

30 October 2014 Last updated at 00:46 By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News

Vulnerable patients in England will get better support in the community as part of plans to ease pressure on hospitals, ministers say.

Joint teams of social care workers and NHS staff such as nurses and physios will become available seven days a week under the changes being unveiled.

The move is part of the government's Better Care Fund to join up the NHS and council-run social care systems.

It comes as a new analysis showed hospitals were under growing pressure.

The King's Fund think tank's quarterly monitoring report, covering the period from June to September, found that 5% of patients were spending four or more hours in A&E - the highest level at this time of year for a decade.

The review also highlighted that waiting times for routine operations, such as hip and knee replacements, had reached their highest levels since 2008 with 12.1% of patients waiting more than 18 weeks.

Meanwhile, the latest figures for the 62-day target for cancer treatment also show that it is being missed, although those figures only cover the period to June.

Where has the money come from?

The government is trumpeting the £5.3bn that has been set aside for the Better Care Fund.

None of this is new money as such, just existing funding streams that are being ring-fenced for this purpose.

The pot was originally set at £3.8bn. That included £3.3bn from the core NHS budget with the rest from money set aside for carers and capital expenditure.

This has been topped up by extra funds that have been put in by local areas that wanted to create bigger pooled budgets.

The £5.3bn represents less than 5% of the combined NHS and social care budgets.

King's Fund director of policy Richard Murray said the performance was a "significant cause for concern" and pointed to a difficult winter ahead.

But ministers are predicting pressures will ease from April when the Better Care Fund comes into place.

The pot, mainly sourced from NHS money, has been created to close the divide between the health and care systems, which elderly patients are particularly affected by.

It has been up to local areas to draw up their own plans, but they all involve some kind of collaboration between health and care staff and creating a single assessment system.

Ministers believe the plans will help prevent more than 160,000 hospital admissions, 2,000 care home admissions and result in more than 100,000 fewer days of unnecessary hospital care caused by delays in discharging patients.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "For years, successive governments and NHS leaders have talked about joining up our health and care services so people get better care at the right time and in the right place.

"The time for talk is over - our plans will make this vision a reality for patients and help deliver a sustainable future for the NHS.

"Too many families experience being passed from pillar to post between the NHS and their council endlessly repeating stories along the way."

Case study: A sign of things to come?

London's Queen Mary's Hospital runs a community rehabilitation service to help people recuperate after an accident or illness.

It is staffed by physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers and an elderly-care doctor, who all work together to help patients regain their mobility and independence.

Evidence suggests it has helped reduce readmissions to hospital and the numbers of people being placed in care homes.

But Local Government Association chairman David Sparks said the changes would fail unless the social care system was better funded - research by the group has suggested local authorities are being under-funded by a third.

He said without more money the whole system would "collapse".

"While we recognise these reforms have the ability to change health and social care for the better, the government must fund councils properly to ensure this happens."

Shadow care minister Liz Kendall said the scale of the plans were "depressingly unambitious".

"The government should have focused on integrating frontline services from day one, but instead they forced through a backroom reorganisation," she added.

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cancer survival rates 'improving'

30 October 2014 Last updated at 12:59

Most people diagnosed with cancer in England in recent years are surviving for longer, according to the latest statistics.

Eighty per cent of those with breast, prostate and skin cancer are living for five years after diagnosis. The figure is 90% for testicular cancer.

Recently diagnosed prostate cancer patients will see a large improvement in their hopes of survival.

The figures are published by the Office for National Statistics.

The ONS report estimated the chances of people surviving for one year and for five years after being diagnosed with cancer in England.

The report looked at survival rates for 24 different common cancers diagnosed between 2008 and 2013.

It found survival improving for the majority of cancers, with survival generally higher in women.

Survival boost

For people with cancers diagnosed in 2013, the greatest improvement in survival chances will be in men with prostate cancer - from 83.6% to 87.6%.

High survival rates for prostate cancer and breast cancer are thought to be due to the increasing number of men and women getting their cancer diagnosed and treated at an early stage.

Other lesser-known cancers also showed promising improvements in the chances of survival.

For women with myeloma, or cancer of the white blood cells, there was a rise in five-year survival from 41.6% for those diagnosed in 2007-2011 to 46.2% for diagnosis between 2008 and 2012.

There were also large increases in survival chances for men with myeloma and men with leukaemia.

While some cancers have a good prognosis, others "remain extremely poor", the ONS report says.

Five-year survival estimates for cancers of the brain, lung, liver, pancreas and stomach are all below 19% for men and 22% for women.

Pancreatic cancer for both men and women has a survival rate of just 5.4% - the lowest in both sexes.

'Greater awareness'

Nick Ormiston-Smith, head of statistical information at Cancer Research UK, said more people were surviving cancer then ever before "thanks to better treatments, earlier diagnosis and greater awareness".

"But the story's not so positive for all types of cancer," he said.

"Lung, pancreatic, oesophageal cancer and brain tumours still have relatively low survival rates, partly because they tend to be diagnosed at a later stage when they're much harder to treat."

He added: "We're working to beat all cancers sooner, increasing our research into cancers with lower survival rates and boosting our investment to help diagnose cancer earlier - accelerating progress to save more lives."

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Drugs fund 'papers over cracks'

29 October 2014 Last updated at 00:53

A fund to pay for cancer drugs that are not available on the NHS "papers over" deeper drugs pricing issues, according to charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Thousands of women with terminal breast cancer are being denied extra time with their loved ones due to the high cost of new drugs, it said.

The charity called on drugs firms and government to make medicines more accessible.

Drugs firms said more drugs needed NHS approval.

NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, said it approved drugs based on clinical and cost effectiveness.

Over the past few years, NICE has not recommended at least seven breast cancer treatments, with cost being a factor in the rejection of over half of those treatments.

Drugs fund

Life-extending drugs that are not available on the NHS can currently be paid for through the £200m per-year Cancer Drugs Fund.

The fund is due to be available until the end of March 2016.

Many drugs have been rejected for approval by NICE on the grounds of cost, Breakthrough Breast Cancer said.

The charity has called for action from the government, the pharmaceutical industry, drugs approval body NICE, and charities to bring down the costs of new treatments and sort out funding issues.

"The Cancer Drugs Fund was only supposed to be a temporary solution and, while it should remain until a workable alternative is found, it is merely papering over the cracks of a system which is no longer fit for purpose," said Chris Askew, chief executive of Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

"Whilst there will be no quick fix solution to this problem, the pharmaceutical industry will need to get serious about its pricing and whoever forms the next government will need to get a grip on the problem and take action to resolve it," he added.

The cost of a life

The NICE drugs approvals process takes into account the cost of the drug, as well as how it effects a patient's quality of life, and how long they live.

NICE uses a measure called a "quality adjusted life year" - a "QALY" - to gauge how much it would cost to give patients a year of healthy life using a treatment.

Drugs that cost up to between £20,000 and £30,000 per QALY can get NICE approval, but end-of-life drugs that cost almost double that can also be approved.

However, some innovative cancer treatments can cost up to £100,000 per QALY, so are dropped by NICE, Breakthrough Breast Cancer senior policy manager Caitlin Palframan said.

"We understand it costs money to develop new treatments," she said. "It's not that we believe that pharmaceutical companies don't have a right to make a profit.

"However, it doesn't do anybody any good if the treatments aren't available on the NHS," she added.

The charity gave the example of breast cancer drug Kadcyla, which is not routinely available in England and Wales, due to its cost.

Safety net?

Cancer drugs that are rejected by NICE can be funded through the Cancer Drugs Fund, but only in England, Ms Palframan said.

In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, terminally-ill patients must get cancer specialists to apply for funding for non-approved treatments.

It was "unacceptable" that some terminally-ill patients "are having to fight for their treatment", she told the BBC.

The high costs of new cancer drugs mainly reflect research costs, drugs industry body the ABPI said.

"The price of development is high," said ABPI director of value and access Paul Catchpole. "It can cost more than £1bn and 10 to 12 years to research and develop a new medicine."

In addition, only one third of new medicines end up covering research and development costs, he said.

"The issue is - who decides what 'high' and 'appropriate' is?" he added.

Mr Catchpole said there were "no upper limits" on what the Cancer Drugs Fund was willing to pay, and called for "evolution" in how NICE assesses cancer drugs.

"We need to make sure [NICE] is taking into account the full costs and benefits of proposals," on the wider economy, he said.

The approvals body said it "makes recommendations for treatments based on the clinical and cost effectiveness of each drug."

"For NICE to recommend a treatment it must work at least as well as, or better than, currently available NHS treatments for the price that the NHS is being asked to pay," it said.

The body said that so far this year it had recommended five cancer treatments, and one drug had been recommended for a specific group of patients.

It has rejected two cancer drugs this year.

21.24 | 0 komentar | Read More