Improving the medical management of asthma could bring cost savings in the British NHS, according to guidance published today.
The draft guidance, released today (28 December) by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), calls for feedback on a new approach to prescribing for asthma.
It states that people with asthma should be offered a seven pence a day tablet earlier than current practice.
NICE says the tablet should be offered before the combination inhaler. They estimate that £3 million a year could be saved for every 10,000 people who follow this new recommendation.
The guidance explains that evidence shows both combination inhalers and leukotriene receptor antagonists, such as montelukast, are both clinically effective when used as a step-up treatment. But due to its lower price, the drug is thought to be significantly more cost-effective for the NHS.
"Millions of people need treatment for their asthma which comes at a price," said Professor Mark Baker of NICE. "We also need to make sure that we make the best use of NHS resources and our guidance is the first to set out what the most clinical and cost-effective options for treating asthma are."
He added that the guidance is for anyone who has poor control on a preventer and needs more help treatment. Those already using a combination inhaler do not have to switch.
The draft guideline is out for public consultation until 16 February.
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