Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions her Department has had with NHS England on implementing NICE's final draft guidance on patient access to Paxlovid.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been developing recommendations for the National Health Service on whether licensed antivirals for COVID-19 should be routinely funded by the NHS based on an assessment of their costs and benefits. NICE published guidance in March 2023 that recommends the antiviral Paxlovid for those at highest risk of serious illness from COVID-19 and the NHS is now legally required to fund treatment in line with NICE’s recommendations. The Department procured stock of Paxlovid during the pandemic and has set up a distribution network to both primary and secondary care in England, as the devolved administrations have their own arrangements, so that all eligible patients can access the treatment.

NICE is developing recommendations for the NHS on the use of the antivirals molnupiravir and remdesivir, and is also developing guidance for the NHS on the potential expanded use of Paxlovid. NICE published final draft guidance that recommends expanded use of Paxlovid in August 2023. Following discussions between the Department, NHS England and NICE, NICE has recently consulted on an NHS England proposal to vary the funding requirement that normally applies three months after the publication of NICE guidance to allow a phased rollout to all eligible patients. NICE will carefully consider the comments received in response to the consultation in making its final recommendations.