Could Healthy Start be extended?
In the meantime, NICE had been considering the cost effectiveness of opening up the currently targeted format to a universal offering.
In a special report7 in November 2015, it concluded that it would not be cost effective to offer Healthy Start supplements to all pregnant women from 10 weeks, women with a child aged under 12 months, and children over six months and under four years.
However, it added: “It is cost effective to extend the offering of Healthy Start supplements universally to the current target group if it is also extended to all:
- Women who are planning a pregnancy
- Women less than 10 weeks pregnant
- Infants aged up to six months
- Children aged from four to five years.â€
The cost effectiveness was considered in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). NICE said that, as folic acid reduced the risk of a large number of women having a pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect, there could be a large gain in QALYs by provision to women planning a pregnancy or who are less than 10 weeks pregnant.
Scotland will move to a universal policy of providing pregnant women with free VMS8 from spring 2017. The move is part of a wider programme to offer support to new families, with the introduction of a ‘baby box’ of essential items, and strengthening the health visitor workforce.