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The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7253 p815
14 June 2003

Related websites
National Institute for Clinical Excellence (www.nice.org.uk)

WHO to look at NICE procedures

An independent review of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's appraisal programme is to be carried out by the World Health Organization. The invitation to WHO follows a report from the House of Commons Health Select Committee last year. At the same time, NICE is to review its own procedures.

WHO is to send a team of five international experts to study the way in which NICE developed four pieces of guidance. These were for etanercept (Enbrel) and infliximab (Remicade), atypical antipsychotic drugs, imatinib (Glivec) and the use of ultrasound locating devices for placing central venous catheters. The expert team will make two visits to the United Kingdom to review documents and meet those involved with interpreting the evidence. Its report will be published in the late summer.

NICE is also setting up two linked internal reviews of its appraisals process. These will concentrate on the process itself and on the methodologies used to develop its guidance. A series of working parties have been set up, including some external representatives. They are expected to produce consultation documents that will be placed on the NICE website (www.nice.org.uk) around the end of July. A final review of the consultation will take place in November.

Monitoring NICE advice Four breast cancer charities have asked who should monitor implementation of guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. They surveyed 304 primary care trusts to investigate their implementation and monitoring of NICE guidance on trastuzumab (Herceptin). Although trusts confirmed that the guidance was being implemented within the three-month mandatory period, the survey highlighted confusion over who was monitoring implementation. In some parts of the UK, it found, monitoring procedures were still being developed.

The charities recommend that monitoring should be led by PCTs. A Department of Health spokeswoman said that strategic health authorities monitor the implementation of NICE guidelines and are, in turn, monitored by the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection.