(2) what assessment he has made of the likely impact on the NHS of the provision of a range of discounts for erythropoietin in National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) ‘Guide to the methods of technology appraisal’, describes all aspects of appraisal methodology, including the principles and methods of health technology assessment. The Guide states that “estimates of...prices for particular resources should be used consistently across appraisals”, and that the Institute uses the “public list price” of a treatment when conducting its appraisals.
The Guide is published on the NICE website at:
www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=201973
NICE is currently undertaking a review of its ‘Guide to the methods of technology appraisal’, which underpins the technology appraisal programme. NICE expects to commence a three-month public consultation on its findings in November 2007.
NICE’s technology appraisal guidance on the use of erythropoietin analogues in the management of cancer treatment induced anaemia is due to be published in November 2007. The appraisal is being conducted in line with NICE’s published methodology.