Letters of appeal
Shire's letter
Alzheimer's Disease Society appeal
Eisai appeal
Lundbeck appeal
RCP/BGS appeal
Appeal results letter to consulted groups

The British Geriatrics Society welcomes the revised consultation document from NICE regarding the prescription of antidementia drugs recommending access to these drugs for people with moderate dementia. However, the British Geriatrics Society believes that these proposals are based on cost-effectiveness rather than clinical effectiveness and that this cost-effectiveness analysis is flawed, as it fails to capture any potential benefits to carers' quality of life or potential savings in carer time.

The medical profession is being encouraged to make early diagnosis, promote preventive strategies, and intervene early to halt or slow down progression of diseases. Perversely, this draft guidance recommends that people with dementia are denied potentially-useful treatment in the early stages of their disease and that they must wait until their dementia is more advanced before being offered treatment. Such a strategy is inequitable as it would not be considered appropriate for the management of other conditions, for example, heart failure.

Antidementia drugs are licensed for all stages of dementia, which acknowledges that they are effective in all stages of dementia. The recommendation by NICE to limit these drugs to people with moderate dementia therefore seems to contradict their licences.

For further information, please contact :
Alex Mair
Chief Executive
British Geriatrics Society
Tel: 020 7608 1369