Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ask NICE to undertake an analysis of whether its proposed new methods for assessing medicines will improve the access of NHS patients to new treatment in comparison to other developed countries in Europe.

Departmental officials regularly discuss a range of issues with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), including the ongoing methods and process review.

NICE recommends the vast majority of medicines it appraises. It has consulted on proposed changes to its methods and processes which will ensure it retains global leadership in the evaluation of new medicines and technologies and provides more equitable access for patients with severe diseases. NICE has undertaken analysis of the impact of its proposed methods in developing the proposals.

NICE is proposing a number of changes to ensure its methods and process are fairer, more consistent and accelerate the introduction of emerging new types of technology. This will support the Life Sciences Vision’s commitment to make the United Kingdom the best place in the world to develop, trial, launch and adopt innovative new medicines, improving patient access to medicines.