I have just heard from NICE in reponse for my request as to progress in their reporting to the Department of Health. In full, it reads:
"We are in the process of writing a report to the Department of Health on the findings made during consultation and the Scoping Workshop we held last month. This report is due to be sent to the Department in mid-March. Once it is in the hands of the Department of Health, we will wait for the topic to be formally referred to us. Upon receipt, we will write to all of our consultees and commentators with the news and proposed timings. Of course, it is also possible that the topic will not be formally referred.
We are expecting to receive the formal 17th wave referral in April or May - however there is no set date for this and the timing of this referral is out of our hands.
Assuming this topic is formally referred, it will be scheduled to begin as soon as space is available in our work programme (assuming licenses are obtained or will shortly be obtained). If this topic follows our MTA (multiple technology appraisal) programme, it will be expected to last 1 year.
I hope this helps."
There is nothing much that is new there but at least some progress is being made, albeit painfully slow for those who have difficulties now in getting these new drugs prescribed.
David