In response to Alec Logan's Viewpoint1 in the Back Pages of the August issue of the BJGP:
The Alzheimer's Society campaigns are driven by our 25 000 members — people with dementia and their carers. On their behalf we lobby for both improved access to drugs and better care services. Donations from pharmaceutical companies in 2002–2004 totalled £68 258. This represents just over 0.1% of our £30 million income in 2003–2004. Relying on this income is not a feasible or desirable option.
We have always been careful to make clear that these drugs are not a miracle cure and we agree that where the drugs are not working they should be withdrawn. However, these drug treatments are hugely valued for the benefits they bring to people and full evidence based reviews have been completed by the Cochrane collaboration — all of which have concluded significant clinical benefit.
If this were not the case, the Alzheimer's Society, along with thousands of people with dementia and their carers, would not be spending so much effort trying to ensure that NICE revises its draft guidance and NHS access to these drugs is not withdrawn.
We are helping to fund research to find new treatments and possible cures, but until then, these drugs are the best treatments that people with dementia have available. There are no alternatives. We firmly believe that people with dementia deserve access to both effective drug treatments and quality social care services. It is not an either/or scenario.
- © British Journal of General Practice, 2005.