Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has held discussions with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on the adequacy of the single technology appraisal pathway for the assessment of (a) innovative technologies and (b) advanced therapy medicinal products.

The Department regularly meets with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to discuss a range of issues. NICE’s technology appraisal programme has been proven to be suitable for the assessment of innovative medicines and advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) where companies are able to price their products in a way that represents value to the taxpayer.

NICE has recommended several ATMPs through its technology appraisal programme that are now available to patients in the National Health Service. NICE concluded a review of its methods and processes for health technology evaluation in January 2022 and has introduced changes that ensure that its appraisal processes are suitable for emerging new medicines, including a broader severity modifier and changes to better respond to uncertainty.