National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
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NICE responds to Telegraph article on value based assessment

Sir Andrew Dillon, Chief Executive of NICE, said:

"We have no intention of introducing a change to our methods that would disadvantage older people."

Professor Carole Longson, Director for the Centre for Health Technology Evaluation at NICE, said:

"In making recommendations about which treatments to recommend for use in the NHS, NICE does not and will not make decisions based on the likely age group of patients. It would be wrong morally and legally to consider an older patient as somehow of less value to society.

"We have been asked by the Government to review the way we assess medicines to reflect more fully the value they bring to society. The methods we use will be applied consistently, transparently, and equitably; they will be informed, as always, by the best available evidence to deliver the best outcomes for patients. Our proposals are being developed and will be submitted for public scrutiny and consultation.”

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