The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) marked its 20th anniversary on 1 April 2019. Our President-Elect, Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, talked about the important link between NICE and clinical pharmacology.
He said:
When NICE was established in 1999, the UK pioneered a new way to achieve consistency in the availability and quality of public health treatment and care. The model has since been adopted in many countries. Clinical pharmacology has played a major part in NICE’s development, starting with the defining role of founding Chair Sir Mike Rawlins, and continuing with close involvement in its activities today.
He explained how NICE has affected pharmacology, saying:
NICE has had a wide impact on pharmacology in both academia and industry. It has been a key driver in bringing health economic assessment of interventions to the fore. It has shaped the academic landscape by setting up departments and chairs, and by funding organisations where cost effectiveness is often evaluated as part of grant applications. NICE continues to be an important facilitator of interdisciplinary research, bringing economists, clinicians, statisticians and modellers together.
Read more about NICE's journey in their online feature.