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Written question asked by Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 July 2026. It was answered by Preet Kaur Gill (Labour) on Thursday, 16 July 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Arthritis: Baricitinib

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to facilitate access on the NHS to baricitinib for children and young people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA); and whether he has considered alternative commissioning or funding routes for that treatment in the absence of a NICE appraisal.

Answer

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new, licensed medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of NHS resources. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE.

NICE has unfortunately been unable to develop guidance for the NHS on the use of baricitinib for treating juvenile idiopathic arthritis in people two years old and over because the company, Eli Lilly, did not provide an evidence submission. NICE will review its decision if the company decides to make a new evidence submission.

Decisions on whether to fund medicines in the absence of NICE guidance are for NHS commissioners. NHS England does not fund medicines where the company has not engaged with NICE. This is to avoid a potential pathway for circumventing the NICE appraisal process. NHS England’s policy on non-submission of data to NICE is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2018/09/NHS-England-Procedural-Note-non-submission-of-data-to-NICE.pdf

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
17120
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Children Medical treatments Arthritis Young people Baricitinib
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk