UPDATE - Issue 32 - Winter 2008
A Nice U-Turn
Three years ago, the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) said men across the country should be offered High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) free on the NHS. Now they have reversed the decision. Trials indicate that HIFU may be an appropriate treatment for early stage prostate cancer. Compared with surgery or conventional radiotherapy treatment, it is not invasive and is far less likely to lead to devastating side effects such as impotence or incontinence. However, it is a new treatment and costs some £13,000 compared with £3,000 for a six-week course of radiotherapy and £5,000 for surgery.
Since NICE made its original ruling, permitting the use of HIFU, just 300 men have been given the treatment on the NHS.
The cost of all new technologies fall as the rate of application rises. HIFU is no exception. Its cost would fall if the number of patients receiving it rose. NICE's shortsighted decision will prevent this happening.