Letter from William Rowland, President: World Blind Union
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3 July 2007
Mr. Andrew Dillon, CEO
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
Dear Mr Dillon
PROTESTING THE NICE RULING ON MACUGEN AND LUCENTIS
The World Blind Union hereby expresses its deepest concern at the preliminary ruling of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to prohibit the use of Macugen and limit the use of Lucentis in the treatment of wet age-related Macular Degeneration in the NHS. We further note the figures widely reported in the press, according to which some 20 000 persons in England and Wales will be condemned to vision loss if denied access to these drugs, it having been demonstrated in clinical trials that these drugs are effective in stabilizing and even improving sight in people with AMD.
It appears that the NICE decision is based purely on economic considerations. That such considerations should weigh more heavily than humanitarian considerations is to us outrageous and deeply offensive. We do, however, take heart from the fact that it is a preliminary ruling subject to final confirmation in September, and on behalf of the global community of blind people, as represented by the World Blind Union, we would appeal to NICE to review its ruling and to restore hope to the tens of thousands of people who potentially could benefit from such treatment.
Yours faithfully
William Rowland
PRESIDENT: WORLD BLIND UNION
