In the crosshairs of the High Authority for Health for several years, drugs against Alzheimer’s disease were delisted in August 2018. “These products have no therapeutic efficacy and they present such undesirable effects, in particular cardiovascular, that it is no longer reasonable to prescribe them.“ then explained Professor Christian Thuillez, president of the transparency commission of the High Authority for Health (HAS).
Following reimbursement of the’Aricept® (donepezil), Ebixa® (memantine), Exelon® (rivastigmine) and Reminyl® (galantamine) as well as their generic versions, several patient associations had seized the Council of State. They felt that this measure would create inequality between families who could afford the drugs and those who did not. The Council of State has just rendered its decision and confirms the delisting of anti-Alzheimer’s drugs.
Insufficient medical service
“The Ministry did not commit a manifest error of assessment in judging the medical benefit rendered by these specialties insufficient and in deciding to strike them off the list of reimbursable medicines for this reason.”, specified the Council of State.
The funds saved (these treatments were reimbursed at 15% and cost around 90 million euros per year to Social Security) should be dedicated to teams that take care of Alzheimer’s patients, announced the Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn during the delisting, in August 2018.
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