Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what medical evidence his Department has recently taken into account in its decision not to license nabiximols for use on the NHS.

Nabiximols (Sativex) is licensed in the United Kingdom for the treatment of moderate to severe spasticity in multiple sclerosis. The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) did not recommended nabiximols in its 2014 clinical guidelines as it is not a cost-effective treatment.

NICE develops authoritative, evidence-based guidance on best practice for the National Health Service. NICE operates with a high degree of independence from the Government and is responsible for the recommendations that it makes to the NHS. Its guidance is based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and is developed through engagement with stakeholders.

However, where there is an absence of final guidance recommendations from NICE, decisions on the funding of a licensed treatment on the NHS are taken by the relevant clinician and commissioner (such as NHS England or individual clinical commissioning groups) based on the individual needs of the patient.