Written Question · S1W-10857 · Session 1
What cost benefit analysis has been undertaken, in partnership with the NHS in England and Wales where appropriate, into the use of newer, …
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive what cost benefit analysis has been undertaken, in partnership with the NHS in England and Wales where appropriate, into the use of newer, safer, more effective medicines rather than older, less expensive drugs which may have a poorer safety profile and a lower level of patient compliance.
The answer
No cost benefit analysis can be attempted in global terms to make the comparison between more recently introduced products which claim to be safer, against established products.A cost benefit analysis or other economic analyses can only be done to compare two or more treatments for a given use. There are a number of units providing such analysis on behalf of the NHS, including units based within Scotland.In addition, publications such as the Scottish Medicines Resource Bulletin and its English and Welsh equivalents give advice to prescribers on choice of treatment, but are not full economic assessments of the subject.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S1W-10857 by reference.