NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND CLINICAL EXCELLENCE'S DECISION TO RESTRICT CERTAIN ALZHEIMER'S DRUGS

EDM number 2285 in 2005-06, proposed by Paul Burstow on 05/06/2006.

That this House is disturbed and disappointed by the decision of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to confirm its draft guidance published in January to restrict the prescription of the drugs donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine to moderately severe sufferers of Alzheimer's; believes that this decision neglects patients at the early stages of the disease by denying them treatment which can prolong their ability to think and act independently; further believes that this decision neglects more severe sufferers of the disease as Exiba, currently the only drug available to treat the severe behavioural symptoms which occur in the later stages of Alzheimer's, is no longer available thus leaving the prescription of potentially dangerous sedatives as the only option for doctors; is concerned that this decision will put increased pressure on the family carers who care for the people afflicted with the disease; and urges NICE to review this decision and put patients' well-being at the fore of its considerations.

This motion has been signed by a total of 63 MPs.