The Establishment of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence: Its Importance and Implications for the Pharmaceutical Industry

Abstract

This paper describes the establishment of the National Center for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom, its role, and its relevance to the pharmaceutical industry. NICE is a special authority established on April 1, 1999 to provide national guidance on the clinical and cost effectiveness of clinical interventions. It seeks to define the most cost-effective practice based on the best research evidence available, together with a systematic approach to professional and public opinion. NICE conducts appraisals of the clinical benefits and costs of new health technologies and produces guidances with recommendations for their appropriate use. NICE also develops and disseminates clinical guidelines and referral advice, and supports clinical audits.