Priority setting: managing new treatments
Key considerations for developing priority setting in relation to new treatments, with a useful list of action points.
Managing the constant demand for new treatments can be difficult for primary care trusts (PCTs).
They are under pressure to invest in them, while ensuring cost effectiveness. Drugs, technologies and treatments appear throughout the financial year but PCTs rarely have large contingency funds. This report sets out some of the key considerations for developing priority setting in relation to new treatments, with a useful list of action points. Managing the introduction of new treatments can be interpreted in different ways.
This report looks at those differences in understanding, specifically:
- the nature of funding decisions for new treatments
- what constitutes a service development
- the role of licensing
- the duties of PCTs to provide treatments that are effective and cost effective.
