The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7177 p805-809
8 December 2001

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NICE’s advice to be made compulsory

Health authorities and primary care trusts in England are to be required to fund all treatments that have been recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

Speaking at the institute’s annual conference in London on 5 December, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Lord Hunt said: "We want to ensure that patients get the appropriate drugs or treatment they need based on these recommendations."

From 1 January 2002, primary care commissioning organisations will be given three months from the publication by NICE of any technology appraisal guidance to provide funding for its recommendations.

The obligation, to be enforced by Ministerial directions, is intended to place an onus on all those who manage NHS budgets to collaborate and establish clear lines of communication so that treatment that has been recommended by NICE is guaranteed for patients for whom clinicians believe it is appropriate.

The Department of Health estimates that the cost of NICE- recommended treatments this year will be over £250m. Health authorities and trusts are to be expected to meet the additional cost of NICE-recommended treatments from their general allocations. Lord Hunt said in his speech: "Let me be absolutely clear on this — the money is there."

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