Liothyronine

(asked on 19th October 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will conduct a review of (1) the actions of NHS England, and (2) the impact on patients with thyroid conditions, following the Competition and Markets Authority’s ruling and fine issued to Advanz for artificially inflating the price of thyroid tablets.


Answered by
Lord Kamall Portrait
Lord Kamall
This question was answered on 29th October 2021

We have no plans to do so. NHS England and NHS Improvement’s guidance Items which should not routinely be prescribed in primary care: Guidance for CCGs identifies items which are clinically effective but where more cost-effective products are available. This includes liothyronine and other products that have been subject to excessive price inflation.

The guidance states that there are three categories for such items which are as follows:

- Products of low clinical effectiveness, where there is a lack of robust evidence of clinical effectiveness or there are significant safety concerns;

- Products which are clinically effective but where more cost-effective products are available, including some products that have been subject to excessive price inflation; and

- Products which are clinically effective but due to the nature of the product are deemed a low priority for National Health Service funding.

Liothyronine was included in the second category. Additionally, it was noted that there was limited evidence to support its routine prescribing in preference to levothyroxine. A copy of this guidance is attached. NHS England and NHS Improvement will review the guidance on a regular basis to ensure that any updated evidence on clinical and cost effectiveness is considered.

Reticulating Splines