Patients’ voice in access decisions
- 1. Patients’ voice in access decisions A discussion of the roles patients can play Nick Meade Director of Policy Genetic Alliance UK
- 2. Genetic Alliance UK is the national charity working to improve the lives of patients and families affected by all types of genetic conditions. We are an alliance of over 180 patient organisations. Our aim is to ensure that high quality services, information and support are provided to all who need them. We actively support research and innovation across the field of genetic medicine. Who are we?
- 3. • Patient voice as information providers • Patient voice in decision making • Patient voice in policy development • Patient voice as an individual Patients’ voice in access decisions A discussion of the roles patients can play
- 4. “Health technology assessment is the systematic evaluation of the properties and effects of a health technology, addressing the direct and intended effects of this technology, as well as its indirect and unintended consequences, and aimed mainly at informing decision making regarding health technologies.” World Health Organisation Raw material: information Patient voice type 1 Information providers
- 5. Some types of information required by HTA bodies: •Population size? How many people are affected? How many people need / want the intervention? •What is the impact of the condition? Burden of illness? •How does the disease progress? At what stage should the treatment be given? •What are the adverse events associated with the treatment? What is their impact? •How will the treatment be delivered within the health service? •How effective is the medicine? Is it uniformly effective? Does it work better in certain circumstances? •How much does it cost? What is the value of the improvements it makes? Are these questions valid? Can we answer them in the case of the treatment under discussion? Patient voice type 1 Information providers
- 6. Example from: The Society for Mucopolysaccharide Diseases (the MPS Society) is the only UK charity supporting individuals and families affected by MPS, Fabry and related diseases. Response to scoping for NICE’s Highly Specialised Technology evaluation of Elosulfase alfa for treating mucopolysaccharidosis type 4A Patient voice type 1 Information providers
- 7. What is the population size? NICE’s DRAFT Scope for Elosulfase alfa for treating mucopolysaccharidosis type 4A “The exact prevalence of mucopolysaccharidosis type IVA is not known. It has been estimated to affect approximately 1 in 250,000 people in the UK, with 1 new diagnosis per 220,000 live births. This equates to about 200 people living with mucopolysaccharidosis type IVA, and approximately 3 new diagnoses per year, in England.” MPS Society’s response: “The MPS Society has had an MPSIVA registry since 1984 and has collaborated with clinical sites to ensure accuracy and completeness. 94 people living with a biochemical diagnosis in England are on the MPSIVA registry and we do not believe any are missing.” Patient voice type 1 Information providers
- 8. What outcomes should be considered? NICE’s DRAFT Scope for Elosulfase alfa for treating mucopolysaccharidosis type 4A “The outcome measures to be considered include: MPS Society’s response: “Please consider: But is it easy for patients to play this vital role? Patient voice type 1 Information providers • mobility • respiratory and cardiac function • growth and development • vision and hearing • sleep apnoea • mortality • adverse effects of treatment • health-related quality of life (for patients and carers).” • fatigue • pain • endurance.”
- 9. Patients are a key stakeholder in healthcare. They should play a role in decision making. Patients and patient groups understand the potential beneficiaries point of view • Is the patient submission being considered appropriately? • Are all potential benefits from this medicine being valued equally? • Just how valuable is a shift from daily treatments to weekly? Patient participation in marketing authorisation decision making has changed the culture of EMA scientific committees. • At least one trained disinterested patient should be part of the decision making panel. Patient voice type 2 Decision maker
- 10. NICE’s HST Evaluation Committee has: 3 lay members (including someone with knowledge / experience of ethical issues) • Professional ethicist • Member of public • Patient representative (conflicted for one of the products!) Scottish Medicines Consortium 2 public partners • One of whom has been public partner for Healthcare Improvement Scotland for more than 10 years Patient voice type 2 Decision maker
- 11. European Medicines Agency committees: • Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee – one patient member and one alternate • Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products – three patient members (including the co-chair) • Committee for Advanced Therapies – two patient members and two alternates • Paediatric Committee – three patient members and three alternates • Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) – one patient observer (new this year) The membership structure of all of these committees are the result of primary legislation at the European level. Patient voice type 2 Decision maker
- 12. Patients are a key stakeholder in healthcare. They should play a role in designing decision making processes. Developing the system in isolation disenfranchises the patient community and is likely to result in a poorer design. Patients just like other stakeholders will have experience of these programmes and how their voice has been dealt with in the past. This should be made use of. This is how we change how patient voice contributes to HTA decisions! Patient voice type 3 Policy maker
- 13. The most important patient voice in the whole process is that of the individual making a choice to take a medicine. Where possible, patients should be empowered to make an informed choice as to whether to take a medicine, as part of a shared decision with their clinician. Patient voice type 4 The individual
- 14. Patient voice: • as information providers • as decision makers • as policy makers • as individuals Conclusion At least four types of patient voice: ALL must play a role
- 15. You can download a copy of our Patient Charters on access to rare disease medicines in England here: www.geneticalliance.org.uk/hstcharter.htm www.geneticalliance.org.uk/nhsenglandcharter.htm Acknowledgements • All those that participated in the workshops • All colleagues that have worked together with us • NICE and NHS England Links and acknowledgements
- 16. Thank you! Nick Meade Director of Policy +44 (0) 207 704 3141 nick@geneticalliance.org.uk Registered charity numbers: 1114195 and SC039299 Registered company number: 05772999