Posted by greywolf on July 29, 2006, at 20:35:35
In reply to Re: New NICE guidelines on bipolar (UK) » greywolf, posted by ed_uk on July 29, 2006, at 20:19:59
> Hello,
>
> >Is this an organization that advocates more limited patient access to medications?
>
> NICE is a UK government organisation which produces many guidelines stating how various diseases should be treated. NICE may advise doctors which drugs should not be provided by the National Health Service (NHS). Although NHS doctors *can* legally prescribe drugs which are not recommended by NICE, they are likely to get a slapped wrist if they do. Doctors may prescribe drugs which are not recommended by NICE on a 'private prescription' - meaning that the patient will have to pay the full cost of the medication plus the pharmacy's fees, rather than simply paying the £6.65 NHS prescription charge.
>
> Regards
>
> EdThanks, Ed.
Sounds like NICE has an economic incentive to promote more restrictive diagnostic criteria whether or not they are accurate.
poster:greywolf
thread:670612
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060724/msgs/671855.html