Qualitative assessment of the impact of restricting number of drug treatments for rheumatoid arthritis: Experience of prescribers and patients

Introduction: In 2020, almost half of all Clinical Commissioning Groups in England were restricting the number of higher cost drugs (HCDs) that could be prescribed for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) before an Individual Funding Request was required. We were interested in qualitatively exploring the experiences of prescribers affected by these restrictions and the experiences of patients who required four or more of these drugs.Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five prescribers in restricted areas and six patients from our own service who had received four or more HCDs. The interviews were analysed thematically.Results: Prescribers reported feeling distressed and frustrated by the unsatisfactory service they were constrained to provide. Some prescribers continued partially effective treatments in order not to run out of options. They did not find Individual Funding Requests or the Blueteq High Cost Drug (HCD) System helpful in the management of these patients. The Blueteq HCD System is an electronic platform that allows health managers to monitor the prescribing of high-cost medicines and manage the complexities associated with their use. Patients expressed severe distress at the prospect of running out of options and anxiety around the process of gaining approval for their next treatment.Conclusions: Restricting drugs for RA by the number which can be prescribed results in persistence with partially effective treatments, which is unsatisfactory for prescribers and patients, further it does not save money. Patients need to travel in their journey with RA and be able to try the next drug even though they know that it may not work.