Petition
Tuesday 21 October 2008
OBSERVATIONS
Health
Ankylosing Spondylitis
The Petition of those concerned about the provision of anti-TNF medicines for patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
Declares that some Primary Care Trusts are not providing anti-TNF medicines for patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Health to investigate why some Primary Care Trusts are not providing anti-TNF medicines for patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
And the Petitioners remain, etc. —[Presented by Andrew George , Official Report, 21 July 2008; Vol. 479, c. 623.] [P000252]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Health:
On 28 May 2008, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued technology appraisal guidance recommending Adalimumab or etanercept (anti-TNF medications) as possible treatments for people with severe ankylosing spondylitis who:
have active spinal disease as assessed on two separate occasions 12 weeks apart; and
have tried at least two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) but they have not worked.
The NHS is legally obliged to fund and resource medicines and treatments recommended by NICE's technology appraisals, three months from the date of publication of the guidance.
All patients in England with ankylosing spondylitis, who meet the clinical requirements detailed in the published NICE guidance, should therefore be offered either Adalimumab or etanercept from 28 August 2008.
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