Introduction to NICE
Professor David Haslam CBE
Chair, NICE
Student champion Study Day, September 2016
The background: why NICE was
set up
• Established in 1999
• Aim: to reduce variation in the
availability and quality of
treatments and care (the so
called ‘postcode lottery’)
• To resolve uncertainty about
which medicines and
treatments work best and
which represent best value for
money for the NHS
“Probably not, but it’s
worth a bloody good try.”
Frank Dobson, Health Secretary, who established NICE in
1999, when asked whether he thought it would work.
Expectations
• National, authoritative source of advice
• Guidance based on effectiveness and cost effectiveness
• Inclusive and consultative approach
• Independent and efficient
• A service for the NHS and the public which uses it
• Broad support from professional and patient groups
Core principles of NICE’s work
• Based on the best evidence available
• Expert input
• Patient and carer involvement
• Independent advisory committees
• Genuine consultation
• Regular review
• Open and transparent process
• Social values and equity considerations
A Brief History
1999: Technology appraisals
Clinical guidelines
2002: Interventional procedures
Implementation
2005: Public health guidelines
2008 : NICE International
2009: Cost saving MedTec programme (new technologies)
Diagnostics
NHS Evidence
2011: National Prescribing Centre (now Medicines Prescribing
Centre)
2013: Social care guidelines
Highly specialised technologies
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13
NICE Guidance by Year
Appraisals
QIPP
Public Health
Interventional Procedures Clinical
Guidelines
QOF
Accreditation
Quality Standards
Medical devices
CCGO Diagnostics
Evidence updates
Year
Nu
mb
er
of
pu
blic
atio
ns
Perceptions of NICE: 1999
Supportive Government,
health
professionals
Curious Advocacy
groups,
academics,
media
Sceptical/hostile Industry
Blissfully
ignorant
Public
Perceptions of NICE: 2014
Supportive Government,
health
professionals,
academics,
advocacy
groups,
industry (most)
Curious Media (most),
public
Sceptical/hostile Industry (some)
media (some)
Blissfully
ignorant