8:00pm Friday 3rd September 2010
Confusion surrounds changes to free prescriptions after one patient was told he can no longer receive a popular arthritis supplement from his pharmacy.
Ralph Rea, of St Dogmaels was shocked last week to discover that he would no longer be able to get glucosamine, a supplement widely used for osteoarthritis, on prescription.
Mr Rea suffers from osteoarthritis of the knees, spine and hands and has used glucosamine for the last eight years.
On his last prescription a note printed on the back stated that Hywel Dda Health Board would no longer supply it on prescription.
“It is something that is going to hit a lot of people, especially the elderly and vulnerable or those on benefits,” said Mr Rea.
“They are failing the population that needed to be protected, that is why free prescriptions were in place.”
Mr Rea finds glucosamine of great benefit in reducing pain and increasing mobility.
“The effects of glucosamine are very beneficial, I had practically no mobility at all, my quality of life has improved vastly,” he added.
Mr Rea is planning to launch a petition and campaign against the removal of the supplement from prescription.
Director of primary, community and mental health services for Hywel Dda Health Board, Bernardine Rees, said GPs and clinicians across Wales have been asked not to prescribe the supplement following guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
“NICE could not find enough good evidence of health benefits for patients taking glucosamine in osteoathritis and therefore could not support the cost to the NHS in prescribing it,” she said.
“Hywel Dda Health Board is following this guidance to ensure there is equality in prescribing across the area, and indeed across Wales, and to ensure that limited NHS resources are used on treatments that can evidence clinical and cost effectiveness.”
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