Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29520603›Full record

ArticlePharmacoEconomics2018

New Medicines in Wales: The All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) Appraisal Process and Outcomes.

Alice Varnava, Robert Bracchi, Karen Samuels, Dyfrig A Hughes, Philip A Routledge

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in PharmacoEconomics, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Comparing access to orphan medicinal products in Europe.Orphanet journal of rare diseases · 2019
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Alice VarnavaAll Wales Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre, Academic Centre, University Hospital Llandough, Penlan Road, Llandough, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, CF64 2XX, UK. alice.varnava@wales.nhs.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5090-9541
Robert BracchiAll Wales Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre, Academic Centre, University Hospital Llandough, Penlan Road, Llandough, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, CF64 2XX, UK.
Karen SamuelsAll Wales Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre, Academic Centre, University Hospital Llandough, Penlan Road, Llandough, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, CF64 2XX, UK.
Dyfrig A HughesBangor University, Ardudwy, Normal Site, Holyhead Road, Bangor, Wales, LL57 2PZ, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8247-7459
Philip A RoutledgeAll Wales Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre, Academic Centre, University Hospital Llandough, Penlan Road, Llandough, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, CF64 2XX, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9770-6787

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) develops prescribing advice and is responsible for appraising new medicines for use in Wales. In this article, we examine the medicines appraisal process in Wales, its timeliness and its impact on medicines availability in Wales, and compare its processes and recommendations with the two other UK health technology appraisal bodies [the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC)].

methodsWe reviewed the medicines appraisals conducted by AWMSG between October 2010 and September 2015. The duration of the process and the recommendations made by AWMSG were compared with those of NICE and SMC. Only publicly available data were considered in this review.

resultsAWMSG conducted 171 single technology appraisals for 137 medicines during the study period (34 were for medicines previously appraised by AWMSG but these were for new indications). Of these, 152 appraisals were supported for use in NHS Wales (33 with restrictions) and 19 were not supported. Recommendations broadly concurred with SMC and NICE for the majority of appraisals. Compared with NICE recommendations, the median time advantage gained in Wales for those medicines that received a positive AWMSG recommendation and which were subsequently superseded by NICE advice was 10.6 months (range 3.5-48.3 months; n = 17).

conclusionThis review highlights the work carried out by AWMSG over a 5-year period, and provides evidence to support the effectiveness of the appraisal process in terms of patients in Wales gaining earlier access to medicines and efficiency through reduced duplication with NICE.

Indexed as

Decision MakingAdvisory CommitteesCost-Benefit AnalysisHumansPractice Guidelines as TopicScotlandTechnology Assessment, BiomedicalTime FactorsUnited KingdomWales

Identifiers

PMID29520603
PMCPMC5906524

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.