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Medical Treatments

Question for Department of Health and Social Care

UIN 70276, tabled on 5 November 2021

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of progress in (a) improving patients' access to new medicines and (b) meeting the UK's ambitions to be a global life sciences hub in response to the recommendations arising from the NICE Methods Review; and if he will make a statement.

Answered on

15 November 2021

The Government is committed to ensuring patients can access clinically and cost-effective new medicines. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) appraises the clinical and cost effectiveness of all new medicines and National Health Service organisations are legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance. NICE recommends the vast majority of new medicines for routine use on the NHS and many thousands of patients have benefited from access to effective new medicines as a result.

NICE consulted on a range of proposed changes to its methods earlier this year as part of the ongoing review of its methods and processes for health technology assessment. The methods and process review will ensure that NICE retains global leadership in the evaluation and appraisal of new medicines and technologies. As reflected in the Life Sciences Vision, this will support the Government’s ambition to make the UK the best place in the world to develop, trial, launch and adopt innovative new medicines, improving patient access to medicines.