|
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)
was introduced in England and Wales in 1999 as an
independent body, firstly to eliminate the growing
feeling that parts of the country benefited from better
healthcare than other areas.
Frank Dobson, the Health Secretary at the time of its
formation said: “Its evidence-based guidelines will be
used right across the country, so NICE will help end the
unacceptable
geographical variations in care that have
grown up in recent years”.
However, aside from its geographical aims, NICE was
also charged with deciding which new technologies
including drugs should be made available by
the National
Health Service and which should be held back. It is in
this role that the organisation has become better known
over the years.
It would be fair to say that NICE has become better
known for what
drugs it has not allowed than those it
has.
To its many and vocal critics it appears simply to be
there to save the Government money by refusing to
recommend some high-profile drugs which could assist
greatly in life-prolonging treatment.
However, is this the real story? Is it merely a money
saving exercise or is at an organisation with a bad
press doing a tough job under difficult circumstances?
|
