Alzheimer's drugs challenge
Updated on 25 June 2007
Campaigners go to the high court to challenge a decision to deny drugs to early-stage Alzheimer's patients.
Remember those who forget - that was the message from campaigners launching a major legal challenge against the government health watchdog's decision to deny Alzheimer's drugs to patients in the early stage of the disease.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence argues that resources should be put into other treatments on the NHS.
But the Alzheimer's Society say NICE is ignoring the benefits for carers.
Diana Barnes and her husband Harry have made the journey from their home in Winchester to demonstrate their anger with NICE.
Diana has Alzheimer's disease. Harry cares for her.
For five years Diana has been on the medication that NICE says should only go to those who've developed moderate Alzheimer's.
Campaigners say NICE has got its figures badly wrong when it comes to the impact of the drugs on carers.
Diana had the medication from the onset of the disease;
Of course the drugs haven't just helped Diana. They have made a difference to Harry too. And that is one basis for this judicial review.
Campaigners - and the drugs companies - say NICE has got its figures badly wrong when it comes to the impact the drugs have on carers.
