28 October 2010

NICE and the NPC to merge

It has been announced that the National Prescribing Centre (NPC) and the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) are to merge.

An official statement on the NPC website explained the move, saying, “Following notice of the reforms outlined in the recent NHS White Paper, the Department of Health and the NPC's management team have been considering options for the future location of the NPC's activity.

“We have concluded that there is a strong rationale for integrating the NPC's work into NICE, particularly given the launch of NHS Evidence and NPC's primary focus on securing better use of medicines. DH Ministers have approved the planned merger and detailed discussions and work will now begin with a view to implementing the change from April 2011.

“The NPC and NICE already have a history of close working and we believe integration will further strengthen our work to support the NHS, and those working for it, to improve quality, safety and value for money in the use of medicines for the benefit of patients and the public.”