Pensioners win high court eye drug case
Pensioners win high court eye drug case
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Wednesday, 23, Jul 2008 11:38
Three pensioners won a high court case against the Warwickshire primary care trust (PCT) to receive sight saving treatment funded by the NHS on Tuesday.
Drug manufacturer Novartis and the Warwickshire PCT agreed on a deal that means patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) will get treatment. The case, which was backed by Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), is expected to be settled.
The three claimants, Raymond Liggins, 76, from Nuneaton; Jean Middleton, 78, from Kingsbury; and Patricia Meadows, 65, from Stratford-upon-Avon suffer from wet AMD, which can lead to blindness in as little as three months if left untreated. Due to its 'exceptional cases' policy, Warwickshire PCT had denied the anti-VEGF treatments, namely Lucentis.
Now that the PCT has agreed to change its restrictive funding policy, the three pensioners will receive NHS funded treatment.
"I can't express how relieved and happy I am," Ms Middleton said. "I've been terrified of going blind and it's been a dreadful strain for me and my family to live with."
The RNIB is urging other PCTs with restrictive funding policies to make similar agreements so all patients with wet AMD can get treatment.
"We are absolutely delighted," said Steve Winyard, RNIB's head of campaigns. "This is a huge success, not only for Jean, Ray and Patricia, but also for patients across Warwickshire who are currently being denied effective sight saving treatments for wet AMD on the grounds of cost."