NICE plans new “fast-track” appraisal option
pharmafile | October 14, 2016 | News story | Medical Communications, Sales and Marketing | NHS, NICE
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has proposed the introduction of a fast-track process which could make cost-effective therapies available on the NHS almost three months earlier than the current system.
Under the new process, treatments estimated to have a cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) of £10,000 or less would be subject to a “lighter touch” appraisal, with final guidance issued immediately following marketing approval.
“We want to be more agile and flexible in the way we make decisions about new drugs, medical devices and diagnostics, so that patients can get access to them more quickly and the NHS can manage its resources fairly and efficiently,” commented NICE chief executive Andrew Dillon. “By further streamlining our processes we will ensure treatments that clearly offer exceptional value for money will be available to the patients who need them faster than ever before.
“NICE and NHS England believe these proposals represent a fair approach to the significant challenge of providing faster access to innovative, cost effective treatments alongside the need to safeguard future financial sustainability.”
NICE is also planning to introduce a cost effectiveness level of £100,000 per QALY for its Highly Specialised Technologies (HST) programme, which currently does not have any such level. The proposed level weighs in at five times more than the usual level used by the institute, though drugs which do not qualify will still be considered for NHS use when prioritised alongside other rare disease treatments.
Commenting on these new proposals, Mike Thompson, CEO of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), stated: “Today’s consultation sets out a number of proposals which have a significant impact on how new medicines will be brought to patients in the UK. We share the objectives set out by NICE and NHS England to: improve efficiency; manage affordability in the NHS; and ensure decisions are reached reliably on medicines for rare diseases. However, we think the thresholds and methodologies proposed in this consultation can be changed and improved.
“We look forward to working with NICE and NHS England to ensure the thresholds are set at the right levels and in a way that maximises the speed with which NHS patients can get access to those medicines. Medicines in the UK are already subject to rigorous value assessment by NICE and cost controls through a deal with the government that already caps NHS medicines spend. Any decision to implement further restrictions needs to be appropriate, in the best interest of patients and support investment in the medicines of the future.”
Matt Fellows
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