Agenda item

Public Question Time

To receive Questions from the Public, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

Minutes:

The following public question was submitted by Mr. James Allen:

To Health and Wellbeing Board,

 

On the 17/10/18, I received an email from NHS England on ‘NHS set to save £150m by switching to a new version of most costly drug’

 

I would like to ask:

 

1)    How many CCGs have started changing to the new drug?

2)    When savings start to materialis(e), also on what time scale will it be before money from this to start re-investing, to benefit the patients and the care system, who this drug affects?

3)    a. Is the £150m to be distributed across the whole of England?

b. What will each area get in percentage, the whole amount or a share?

4)    How will the re-investing money be used in Oldham?

 

For this report as a few good points to be looked in to, as we can get a(n) overall view from all perspectives.

 

Yours truly,

James Allen

 

Cc Healthwatch Oldham, Cllr Jenny Harrison”

 

The following response was provided from the Health and Wellbeing Board:

 

We assume you are referring to NHS England guidance issued on 16 October concerning Adalimundab, a drug used for hospital treated, serious conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis.

 

Previously Adalimumab has only been available under the brand name Humira. However, the patent on the drug has recently expired opening up the possibility of ‘biosimilar’ versions of Adalimumab being produced and prescribed in the NHS.

Adalimumab is the single medicine on which hospitals spend the most, at a cost of more than £400 million a year.

The guidance to Trusts and CCGs says that nine out of 10 new patients should be started on the best value medicine within three months of a biosimilar launch. At least 80% of existing patients should be switched to the best value biologic (which could be the originator or a biosimilar) within 12 months.

Biosimilar versions of Adalimumab are expected to be available to NHS patients from December this year, and could help save at least £150 million per year by 2021 depending on the price agreed for the drugs. The ongoing use of Humira may also continue where clinically appropriate and where it is best value.

To answer your questions:

 

1.    How many CCGs have started changing to the new drug?

None. No biosimilar versions of Adalimundab are available yet.

 

2.    When savings start to materialis(e), also on what time scale will it be before money from this to start re-investing, to benefit the patients and the care system, who this drug affects?

Once biosimilar versions of Adalimundab are available and necessary arrangements put in place we would anticipate savings starting to be made immediately and be fully realised within 12 months, in line with the guidance.

 

3.    a.   Is the £150m to be distributed across the whole of England?

b.    What will each area get in percentage, the whole amount or a share?

Any funds arising from savings made would be ‘owned’ by local services.  However, we can’t know what the amount or percentage of any savings until biosimilars come to market, their cost is agreed with manufacturers, and we understand how prescribing behaviour changes in practice.

 

4.    How will the re-investing money be used in Oldham?

It is likely that savings made by increasing choice of better value drugs will be used to help make the system more financially sustainable i.e. they will go towards the day to running of existing services.