Cholesterol-reducing drugs for cardiac cases

About 36,000 patients with cardiac problems are now entitled to cholesterol-lowering drugs for free through the National Health Service, even if they do not have high levels of cholesterol.

This follows recommendations by the World Health Organisation which deems that patients with cardiac problems would benefit from the drugs, irrespective of their cholesterol levels, Health Minister Louis Deguara told The Times yesterday.

Dr Deguara explained that patients who had suffered a heart attack, had an angioplasty or a stent placed in the artery and those who underwent bypass surgery are now entitled to the drugs.

Up till now the drugs - statins - were only given for free through the NHS to patients with high levels of cholesterol who were under 75 years old.

However, apart from giving the drug to a new category of patients, the Health Department has decided to give statins for free to all patients with high cholesterol levels, irrespective of their age.

Last month, the Ombudsman ruled that the policy not to provide statins to over 75-year-olds was discriminatory and unacceptable and urged the Health Division to take the necessary steps to lift the age limit.

Dr Deguara said when contacted that the decision was not triggered by the Ombudsman's ruling, adding that the health authorities had been looking at the WHO recommendations for some time. He pointed out that the authorities did not want to merely remove the age limit but also to offer the drugs to those with cardiac problems.