Clause 224

Part of Health and Social Care Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 7:00 pm on 29 March 2011.

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Photo of Paul Burstow Paul Burstow The Minister of State, Department of Health 7:00, 29 March 2011

I can be very clear that the clause is not about enabling NICE to charge end users or drug companies for its main guidance, advice or information products such as technology appraisals. NICE does not charge for those, and there is no intention that it should. However, NICE can already charge for some services, subject to direction from Ministers. I believe that it is right and necessary that it should continue to do so in specific cases, subject to regulation.

The clause provides that regulations may permit NICE to provide advisory services in relation to health care, public health or social care to any body or organisation within or outside the United Kingdom. In its existing form, NICE offers two such advisory services that may come under the scope of the clause. They are the scientific advisory service and NICE International.

NICE officers a scientific advice service to companies with drugs or technologies in development who want to ensure that information requirements for health technology assessment are addressed through the research that the company undertakes as part of the drug development. That is an entirely optional service, which was introduced in response to demand from pharmaceutical companies. It is widely accepted that it is reasonable for NICE to charge those companies that decide to take advantage of the service. NICE’s advice may be useful to companies in meeting the needs of health technology assessment systems internationally, not just in this country.

Through NICE International, NICE in its existing form also shares its extensive experience of evidence-based decision making with foreign Governments and other bodies operating outside the UK. It has been active as far afield as Asia and south America. Again, NICE currently charges for such activity, as it is not right that such costs should be covered by the UK taxpayer.