Click on the links or scroll down the page for information about work currently in progress by category. Please note that information summarised on this page is subject to change.
We produce prescribing guidance and other medicines resources to help patients and healthcare professionals in Wales make sure that medicines are used effectively and appropriately. When we produce these resources, we think it's important that people who might be affected by them have a chance to tell us their views.
We ask patients and carers, patient organisations, prescribers and other healthcare professionals to comment on the resources we're developing. We'd like your views on the resources we're currently working on, listed below. You don't need to comment on the whole document; only on parts that seem relevant to you.
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Title: Polypharmacy review – guidance for prescribing (2022 update) Summary: This will update and replace the existing ‘Polypharmacy: Guidance for prescribing’ document. The intention of this revision has been to focus the guidance on the groups of medicines commonly prescribed in the elderly population that may require review. Consultation closing date: Monday 12 September 2022 |
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Title: Maximising the opportunity presented by biosimilar medicines – A national strategy for Wales Summary: This strategy sets out the steps the NHS and its partners in Wales will take to support the conditions needed to create a strong, competitive biosimilar medicines market in the UK benefiting the NHS, patients and the economy of Wales. Consultation closing date: Wednesday 7 September 2022 |
Patients, carers and patient organisations - please see our New medicines needing your views page for answers to some questions you might have about making a submission.
Clinical experts - please see our Clinical expert opinion for medicine appraisals page for background information.
We'd like to receive your submission before the stated deadline (so we can prepare the meeting papers). But we'll still try to include any that arrive late.
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Medicine name: lacosamide (Vimpat®) Reference number: 4698 Indication: Adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial-onset seizures with or without secondary generalisation in children from 2 years of age < 4 years of age with epilepsy Patient and carer submission: Download form or submit online Patient organisation submission: Download form or submit online Clinical experts submission: Download form AWMSG meeting date: 14/09/2022 |
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Medicine name: rituximab (MabThera®) Reference number: 3192 Indication: For the treatment of moderate to severe pemphigus vulgaris Patient and carer submission: Download form or submit online Patient organisation submission: Download form or submit online Clinical experts submission: Download form Submission deadline: 05/05/2022 AWMSG meeting date: 14/09/2022 |
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Medicine name: bedaquiline (Sirturo®) Reference number: 4860 Indication: For use as part of an appropriate combination regimen for pulmonary multidrug‑resistant tuberculosis (MDR‑TB) in paediatric patients (5 years to less than 12 years of age and weighing at least 15 kg) when an effective treatment regimen cannot otherwise be composed for reasons of resistance or tolerability. Patient and carer submission: Download form or submit online Patient organisation submission: Download form or submit online Clinical experts submission: Download form AWMSG meeting date: TBC |
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Medicine name: dupilumab (Dupixent®) Reference number: 4017 Indication: Indicated in children 6 to 11 years old as add-on maintenance treatment for severe asthma with type 2 inflammation characterised by raised blood eosinophils and/or raised fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) who are inadequately controlled with medium to high dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) plus another medicinal product for maintenance treatment Patient and carer submission: Download form or submit online Patient organisation submission: Download form or submit online Clinical experts submission: Download form AWMSG meeting date: 14/09/2022 |
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Medicine name: ambrisentan (Volibris®) Reference number: 4819 Indication: Treatment of PAH in adolescents and children (aged 8 to less than 18 years) of WHO Functional Class (FC) II to III including use in combination treatment. Efficacy has been shown in IPAH, familial, corrected congenital and in PAH associated with connective tissue disease. Patient and carer submission: Download form or submit online Patient organisation submission: Download form or submit online Clinical experts submission: Download form AWMSG meeting date: TBC |
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Medicine name: hydrocortisone MR (Efmody®) Reference number: 3017 Indication: Treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) in adolescents aged 12 years and over and adults. Patient and carer submission: Download form or submit online Patient organisation submission: Download form or submit online Clinical experts submission: Download form Submission deadline: 15/01/2022 AWMSG meeting date: 14/09/2022 |
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Medicine name: ferric maltol (Feraccru®) Reference number: 5116 Indication: Treatment of iron deficiency in adults. Patient and carer submission: Download form or submit online Patient organisation submission: Download form or submit online Clinical experts submission: Download form Submission deadline: TBC |
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Title: All Wales chronic pain resources Status: Consultation completed Remit: Guidelines and resources developed to provide evidence based, prudently-driven guidance for the pharmacological management of chronic pain in Wales. In addition, quick reference guides, patient information leaflets, audit resources and educational materials will also be developed. Estimated publication date: September-November 2022 |
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Title: Value based prescribing - biological medicines for severe uncontrolled asthma Status: Consultation completed Remit: This paper set out the strategic approach for the value based prescribing programme, providing an overview to the background and a structure for the proposed work to progress (now published). Also provided was an initial therapeutic area proposed for inclusion within the programme; biological medicines for severe uncontrolled asthma (still in development). Estimated publication date: September-November 2022 |
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Title: All Wales Guidance for Prescribing Intervals (2022 update) Status: Consultation completed Remit: This document is an update to the 2013 All Wales Review and Guidance for Prescribing Intervals. The guidance stated that a 28-day prescribing interval was broadly recommended for repeat prescribing. A Welsh Government commissioned review of dispensing volumes in community pharmacies across Wales, undertaken by the Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care (WIHSC) concluded that, on balance, there would be benefit to patients, GP practices and community pharmacies if prescribing intervals were extended. Estimated publication date: September-November 2022 |
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Title: Polypharmacy review – guidance for prescribing (2022 update) Status: Consultation open Remit: This will update and replace the existing ‘Polypharmacy: Guidance for prescribing’ document. The intention of this revision has been to focus the guidance on the groups of medicines commonly prescribed in the elderly population that may require review. Estimated publication date: September-November 2022 |
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Title: Understanding unlicensed medicines Status: Consultation anticipated September-October 2022 Remit: This will provide guidance for prescribers across primary and secondary care settings, including clarification around what the different types of unlicensed medicines are, understanding responsibilities throughout the different stages of the prescribing journey and key steps to be taken when prescribing unlicensed medicines and transferring care of relevant patients. |
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One Wales Medicine new assessment Medicine name: vonicog alfa (Veyvondi®) Reference number: OW19 Indication: Treatment of bleeding during surgery in paediatric patients with Von Willebrand disease. Patient organisation/patient/carer submission: Submit your response by email to awttc@wales.nhs.uk Clinical experts submission: Submit your response by email to awttc@wales.nhs.uk Submission deadline: 05/08/2022 OWMAG date: September 2022 |
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One Wales Medicine new assessment Medicine name: abiraterone acetate (Zytiga®) Reference number: OW20 Indication: Treatment of non-metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer at high risk of progression Patient organisation/patient/carer submission: Submit your response by email to awttc@wales.nhs.uk Clinical experts submission: Submit your response by email to awttc@wales.nhs.uk Submission deadline: 05/08/2022 OWMAG date: September 2022 |
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Title: Maximising the opportunity presented by biosimilar medicines – A national strategy for Wales Summary: This strategy sets out the steps the NHS and its partners in Wales will take to support the conditions needed to create a strong, competitive biosimilar medicines market in the UK benefiting the NHS, patients and the economy of Wales. Consultation closing date: Wednesday 7 September 2022 |
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Title: AWMSG annual report 2021-2022 Summary: Review of the activities and achievements of the All Wales Medicine Strategy Group (AWMSG) between April 2021 and March 2022. Estimated publication date: September 2022 |
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Title: IPFR annual report 2021-2022 Summary: Review of Individual Patient Funding Request activity in Wales between April 2021 and March 2022. Estimated publication date: September 2022 |