A PENSIONER from Worcester has welcomed a decision to provide vital drugs on the NHS which could help save his sight.

Brian Pritchard, of Kilbury Drive, Spetchley, was diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration in his right eye earlier this year, but was concerned the drug Lucentis would be difficult to afford.

But following a u-turn by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) he will now be able to get the drug free on the NHS. Previously NICE suggested the drug should only be given on the NHS to patients who had already lost their sight in one eye.

The 72-year-old war veteran, who served in Kenya in the 1950s with the Royal Army Service Corps, said: “It’s about time. I have paid my taxes all my life and I did my regular service in the army.”

The overall cost to Worcestershire Primary Care Trust of providing the drug will be £2.4 million per year and it will be made available straight away. The NHS will fund 14 injections at a cost of around £10,700 to help treat the disease, which occurs when blood vessels grow behind the retina, leaking fluid and blood which cause scarring.

The drug works by targeting the protein involved in the formation of blood vessels.

Mr Pritchard’s wife of 30 years, Marion, aged 69, was concerned about the financial burden of paying for the treatment privately, after she was told it could cost £1,700 per injection of the drug. “Before it was a postcode lottery to get the drug,” she said.

“It was such a crisis to us at the time.

“If he had lost his sight it would have been awful. It would have been a huge financial burden to the family to pay for the treatment he needs.

“It would have been a terrible struggle. We’re very relieved. So far we have been lucky enough not to have to fund it.”

Mr Pritchard was told he had the disease in his right eye in January this year after he was alerted by his optician.

He then saw his GP and was referred to Worcestershire Royal Hospital before he was put in contact with an eye specialist at the Priory Hospital in Birmingham.

The decision to provide the drug was welcomed by Paul Bates, chief executive of Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, Worcester’s Labour MP Mike Foster and Worcestershire MEP Liz Lynne.

Mr Foster said: “This for many people is something you can’t put a price tag on.”