Blind to benefits of the union
A new drug for Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration is available free of charge on the NHS. In Scotland.
Wet ARMD is the most common cause of blindness in over-60′s and is caused by abnormal growth of blood vesels in the eye. Wet ARMD is less common than Dry ARMD but vision degenerates far more rapidly in Wet ARMD. The condition usually doesn’t result in full blindness but affects the centre of the eye leaving the sufferer with only peripheral vision.
A drug is available that can help reduce the degeneration but the National Institute for Clinical Excellence refuses to approve it for use on the NHS in England despite the Scottish Medical Consortium approving it for use in Scotland, paid for by the English taxpayer.
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by wonkotsane on Thursday, June 14th, 2007 at 9:39 pm and is filed under Health and is .
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[...] Sir Michael Rawlins – Chairman of NICE: Blind to benefits of the union [...]
June 16th, 2007 at 5:36 pm