Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review the NICE appraisal methodology to take account of current challenges to combination treatments under the renegotiation of the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme; and if he will make a statement.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an independent body and is responsible for the methods and processes it uses in the development of its recommendations and guidance. NICE has been able to recommend a number of combination treatments for use on the National Health Service through its technology appraisal programme.

The Government is committed to supporting the United Kingdom life sciences industry and ensuring that patients can access cost-effective innovative medicines and technologies at a price the NHS can afford. Whilst the formal negotiations are confidential, discussions on a branded medicines voluntary agreement for 2019 onwards are ongoing and are constructive.