PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Rare Diseases (13 April 2018)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of (a) the accuracy of NICE's calculation of the wider value of (i) rare disease and (ii) rarer cancer treatments and (b) the extent to which NICE accounts in that calculation for (A) additional medical benefits, (B) wider economic consequences and (C) social impact costs.

Asked by:
Mark Tami (Labour)

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the National Health Service on whether drugs and other treatments represent an effective use of NHS resources.

NICE’s methods and processes for the assessment of drugs have been carefully developed over time and are internationally respected. NICE continues to keep its procedures under periodic review to ensure that they remain effective and fit for purpose.

In developing guidance on drugs and other treatments through its technology appraisal programme, NICE routinely takes into account all health-related costs and benefits relating to the treatment. NICE may also take into account wider costs and benefits where relevant in making its recommendations.

Answered by:
Steve Brine (Conservative)
23 April 2018