[co-author: Alasdair Austin]*

• The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence public consultation
  The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (“NICE”) has commenced a public consultation on its technology evaluation process when assessing new and emerging health technologies. NICE will be conducting a consultation event on 25 February 2021. The deadline for responding to these proposals is 15 April 2021. NICE’s proposed changes include:

  • alignment of the current guidance development processes;
  • opportunities for new process improvements and ways of working;
  • commercial and managed access processes; and
  • highly specialised technologies.

• Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry amended
  On 12 January 2021, following a public consultation, the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority published an amended version of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry. The amended Code of Practice will continue to be updated until it comes into operation on 1 July 2021.

*Trainee Solicitor