NICE plans faster drug guidance
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is in discussion with the Department of Health over proposals for a revised process to allow more rapid appraisal of new drugs and health technologies. This will enable NICE, in selected cases, to issue guidance shortly after a drug becomes available for use in the NHS.
NICE is hoping to reduce the appraisal time to about six months which
is half the time it takes to issue guidance at present, with the prioritisation
of new drugs that are expected to increase life expectancy. It is also
looking to be able to begin appraisals before the products are licensed,
so that guidance can be issued as soon as possible after a licence is
granted.
The NICE board considered the proposals at a meeting on 21 September.
Following this meeting, the proposals were submitted to the Department
of Health on 23 September for urgent discussion before a final decision
on their adoption. A response is expected in a matter of weeks.
Andrew Dillon, chief executive of NICE, said: “We have listened
to what patients and health care professionals have told us about the
need for timely advice on the use of new medicines, particularly for
life-threatening conditions such as cancer. We have responded by proposing
a new, streamlined process for single drugs, and we think these proposals
can make a real difference.”
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Hospital Pharmacist