Government refers new topics to NICE

The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has announced that it is expanding its forward work programme to include a number of new topics referred to the institute by the government.

Patricia Hewitt, secretary of state for health, has referred new treatments for breast cancer, lung cancer, Crohn’s disease, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis to NICE, in accordance to priorities set out by the health service.

Included in these topics is the development of clinical guidelines and a number of analyses of technology covering a range of diseases as part of the organisation’s single technology and multiple technology appraisal programmes.

Andrew Dillon, chief executive of NICE, said: “NICE welcomes the referral of today’s topics, which address areas of significant concern for those working in the NHS, patients and carers.”

He added that the organisation was eagerly anticipating its development of guidance to inform the NHS regarding treatment and healthcare in these therapeutic areas, with timetables for these topics to be published shortly.

Last month, NICE announced the appointment of Jonathan Tross and Dr Margaret Helliwell to the non-executive board, with Rona McCandlish to join at the start of April 2007.

The institute also offered its thanks to outgoing board members Susanna Lawrence, Roy Luff and Mary McClarey.