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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department is conducting into the management of dyspepsia. [103000] Ms Blears: The Department funds research to support policy and delivery of effective practice in health and social care. The Department's health technology assessment (HTA) programme commissioned a systematic review of the management of dyspepsia that reported in 2001. The HTA programme has four current projects related to dyspepsia. These are: randomised trial comparing the efficacy and costs of endoscopy with Helicobacter pylori testing versus non-invasive Helicobacter pylori testing alone in the management of dyspepsia; systematic review and modelling of the cost-effectiveness of screening for Helicobacter pylori to reduce mortality and morbidity from gastric cancer and peptic ulcer disease; the place of minimal access surgery amongst people with gastro- oesophageal reflux disease--a UK collaborative study; and comparison of the cost effectiveness of four strategies for the prevention of non-steroidal anti inflammatory drug induced gastrointestinal toxicity--a systematic review with economic modelling. The main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its funding from the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology. The MRC is not currently conducting any research into the management of dyspepsia but spent an estimated £4 million in 2001-03 on a wide range of basic and clinical research into disorders of the digestive system. The MRC always welcomes high quality applications for support of research into any aspect of human health, and these are judged in open competition with other demands on funding.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

103000; 402 c193-4W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Health services Diseases Medical treatments Research Digestive system

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk