The first High Court challenge of a decision by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) will begin on Monday 25 June, a judge announced today. The unprecedented judicial review follows a two year battle over whether people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease should have access to the only effective drugs to treat the debilitating illness on the NHS. The drugs cost just £2.50 a day.
In a directions hearing held today, James Goudie QC heard that the case has huge implications for thousands of people’s lives and arranged for it to be heard at the first available opportunity. The case is expected to last for four days.
Responding to today’s announcement, Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, says,
The charity presented a damning dossier of evidence to the High Court last month (Friday 27 April) in preparation for the case. The Alzheimer’s Society is acting as an interested party in the judicial review, representing the views of people with dementia and their carers. During the judicial review the High Court will hear representations from drug manufacturers, patient representatives and dementia experts.
