Health technology assessment (HTA) has a long history in the United Kingdom. The first study undertaken to inform a central policy decision was the economic evaluation of screening for tuberculosis using mass miniature radiography [1]. Another well-known study was the evaluation of the heart transplant program, commissioned by the Department (i.e., Ministry) of Health (DH) to decide whether to ...

On 1 April 2009, the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) took over a new role in advising on new indicators for the NHS Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) in the United Kingdom. Confirmation of this change came at the end of a Department of Health consultation with patients, carers, NHS professionals and commissioners on how the process should work. The move is a stron...

Substance misuse within the UK population continues to be a major public health concern (FIGURE 1). Approximately one in four of those entering drug treatment programmes in 2010-2011 were female, many of who were of childbearing age. Pregnant substance misusing women need supportive and coordinated care during pregnancy. They have been highlighted as a specific group in need by the National Ins...

©FSRH J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care 2010: 36(4) Introduction Etonogestrel (ENG) contraceptive subdermal implants [Implanon®, Schering-Plough Limited/Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited (MSD), UK] have been available for more than 10 years in the UK. Over 180 000 implants are now fitted each year, with approximately 6 million women using this method worldwide (MSD, data on file, July 2010). The Departm...

Pricing, reimbursements and coverage decisions for medical innovations and services are complex. In many countries, valuing medical technologies is the responsibility of national health-care systems that strive for distributive efficiency under fiscal constraints on medical spending. In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is charged with the difficult task o...

DEAR EDITOR, Early identification and prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has been emphasized as an area of importance by the National Service Framework for Renal Services of the UK. Over 2% of the total National Health Service (NHS) UK budget is spent on renal replacement therapy for those with established renal failure, and on an average 30% of patients with advanced renal failure are ...