Wales to fund Lucentis
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
Novartis's Lucentis (ranibizumab) will be available on the Welsh NHS for treating patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in both eyes, Edwina Hart, the Welsh minister for health and social services, has announced. £5 million pounds of funding is to be made available for the treatment during the current financial year, she added. The minister also promised a review of all wet-AMD drugs currently undergoing clinical trials so that they may become NHS treatment options as soon as they are licensed. In addition, treatment protocols are to be "appraised and reappraised to ensure the service delivers the best outcomes for patients".