NHS budget constraints block £30,000 Alzheimer’s drug access

Alzheimer’s patients face distress as a promising drug, Lecanemab, receives approval in the UK, but remains inaccessible due to NHS budget constraints.

Lecanemab, priced at £30,000 per patient annually, is unaffordable for most British citizens. Although the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved it, the high cost renders it impractical for widespread use.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence argues that Lecanemab offers minimal benefits and is not cost-effective for the taxpayer. However, Alzheimer’s patients value any potential delay in symptom progression, highlighting the need to find a solution to make Lecanemab available on the NHS until a more affordable alternative is developed. The ultimate goal remains finding a cure for this devastating disease that robs individuals of their identity.

Strictly’s Amy Dowden, who is battling breast cancer, has faced online abuse from trolls. She advocates for prosecution of these offenders, and initial steps should include social media platforms monitoring and removing harmful content, as well as shutting down accounts of those spreading hate.

Dowden is not alone in this, but it is shocking that her abusers could attack someone sharing their cancer journey to help others. These individuals must be named, shamed, and held accountable to demonstrate that such vile behaviour has serious repercussions.

Storm Lilian threatens to disrupt the Bank Holiday weekend in some parts of the UK, a typical end-of-summer scenario. Given that rain and storms often ruin plans, it’s no surprise that complaining about the weather is a national pastime.