Manx Care to introduce new NICE recommended therapies

They'll target long-term conditions including arthritis and psoriasis 

New targeted drug therapies for a range of long-term conditions are being introduced by Manx Care.

The move is in line with recommendations from NICE - the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

The new treatments cover a broad range of conditions which affect many people on the Isle of Man including:  

• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Psoriatic Arthritis
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Crohn’s Disease
• Psoriasis

Manx Care says whilst implantation of NICE recommendations is not currently a legal requirement it is committed to reviewing developments as they are introduced in the UK.

Where possible the health body says it will follow the same guidance in its service reviews.

The introduction of the new medications will have the same cost, or are cost saving, compared to current drug treatments being offered.

Some of the therapies include monoclonal antibodies (MABs), and other similar targeting drug therapies, that are designed to treat autoimmune conditions, when the body’s immune system decides to target healthy tissue rather than fighting disease, thereby reducing associated inflammatory symptoms, such as in the bowel or in the joints.

Manx Care adds it's also investigating ‘current gaps’ in other clinical conditions and will progress these through service development and financial processes.