Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government taking to ensure that (a) NICE and (b) NHS England processes are (i) evaluated and (ii) adapted to assess the (A) cost-effectiveness and (B) accessibility of one-time gene therapies.

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) appraises new innovative drugs including gene therapies and other advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). NICE has recommended the majority of ATMPs it has assessed to date. NICE is currently reviewing its methods and processes for technology appraisals and highly specialised technologies and this review considers ATMPs and other emerging technologies.

The National Health Service is well prepared for the adoption of ATMPs which are recommended by NICE. NHS England and NHS Improvement, the Accelerated Access Collaborative and direct commissioning teams work with a range of stakeholders to undertake detailed horizon scanning of new health technologies to ensure the relevant clinical and implementation preparations can be made in the event that treatments are recommended by NICE.