The origins and perceptions of the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)

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?