National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is a UK-based executive non-departmental public body, responsible for providing national guidance and advice to improve health and social care. Established in 1999, NICE aims to improve outcomes for people using the National Health Service (NHS) and other public health and social care services.

History

NICE was originally set up as the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in 1999 to reduce variation in the availability and quality of NHS treatments and care across the UK. In 2005, its role expanded to include the development of public health guidelines. Following the Health and Social Care Act 2012, NICE was renamed the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in April 2013 to reflect its broader remit, including social care.

Function

NICE provides national guidance, advice, quality standards, and information services for health, public health, and social care. Its guidance is developed using evidence-based analysis and is aimed at health care professionals, providers, and commissioners to improve the quality of care and to promote healthy living.

Guidance

NICE produces several types of guidance:

• Clinical guidelines recommend how healthcare professionals should care for people with specific conditions.
• Technology appraisals evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of health technologies, such as new pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products.
• Interventional procedures guidance assesses the safety and efficacy of surgical procedures and medical devices.
• Public health guidelines offer recommendations for improving health and preventing disease across populations.
• Quality standards set out the priority areas for quality improvement in health and social care.

Impact

NICE guidance is highly influential in setting treatment standards within the NHS and has played a key role in both improving the quality of care provided and ensuring the best use of resources. Its decisions, especially those related to the funding of new medicines, can be controversial and have significant implications for patients, healthcare providers, and pharmaceutical companies.

Controversies

NICE has faced criticism for its decision-making processes, particularly regarding the cost-effectiveness threshold used to determine whether new treatments should be recommended for use in the NHS. Critics argue that this can lead to delays or denials of potentially life-saving treatments. However, NICE maintains that its methodologies are transparent and based on the best available evidence.

See Also

• Healthcare in the United Kingdom
• National Health Service (NHS)
• Clinical guideline
• Public health