Duodopa rejected for NHS use in Scotland

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Author: Almaz OhenePublished: 11 January 2016

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The advanced Parkinson’s treatment Duodopa has been rejected for routine use on the NHS in Scotland, sparking concerns among charities and health professionals.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) said it was unable to approve of Duodopa, due to questions raised over its cost-effectiveness.

Dr Alan MacDonald, vice chairman of SMC, said: “The Committee was unable to accept co-careldopa intestinal gel (Duodopa) for the routine treatment of advanced Parkinson’s disease because of uncertainty about the clinical benefits the medicine would provide for this patient group in relation to its cost.”

Duodopa, which can help to control the symptoms of advanced Parkinson’s when all other treatments have stopped working. The gel treatment is administered to the intestine via pump and a tube and requires the patient to undergo surgery – it is estimated to cost around £28,000-per-year per patient and was approved for use by the NHS in England in July 2015.

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Duodopa rejected for NHS use in Scotland

News

Author: Almaz OhenePublished: 11 January 2016

Prep: Cook: Serves:

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Duodopa rejected for NHS use in Scotland

News

Author: Almaz OhenePublished: 11 January 2016

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

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Share this story

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Special reports

Lewy body dementia: “The worst of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s together”

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#UniteForParkinsons: the story so far

Interviews

“I want to create technologies that help alleviate human suffering”

Is sleepwalking linked to risk of Parkinson’s disease in men?

Stay tuned for series two of the Parkinson’s Life podcast

How Parkinson’s disease could impact the way you see art

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