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Last Updated: Monday, 14 October 2002, 10:32 GMT 11:32 UK
Q&A: What is NICE?
NICE decides what drugs should be available on the NHS
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is the body responsible for deciding what medication and treatments should be available on the NHS. As such, its decisions often spark controversy.

BBC News Online examines the organisation.

What is NICE?

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence was set up by the Labour government in 1999.



Decisions by NICE only apply in England and Wales. However, they are sometimes adopted in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

How does it work?

The Department of Health in London and the National Assembly for Wales decide what treatments and drugs NICE should examine.





How does it decide which treatments should be available?


It consults the pharmaceutical industry, the medical profession and patients.




The health secretary and the health minister in Wales decide whether its decisions should be implemented.

Why is it controversial?



It is also trying to balance the interests of sometimes very disparate groups - patients, doctors and the pharmaceutical industry.




What decisions have been controversial?



More recently, NICE has been criticised for acting too slowly to make decisions over drugs for Alzheimer's disease and bowel cancer.

Drugs watchdog 'must be obeyed'
05 Dec 01 |  Health

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