Developing NICE single technology appraisals (STAs)
This is a summary of how NICE develops single technology appraisals. A single technology appraisal can only cover a single technology for a single indication. See all technology appraisals currently in development.
- Provisional appraisal topics chosen
The Department of Health (DH) produces a list of provisional appraisal topics. - Consultees and commentators identified
Read more about consultees and commentators. - Scope prepared
NICE works with the DH to develop a scope. The scope defines the disease, the patients and the technology covered by the appraisal and the questions it aims to answer. Consultees and commentators are requested to comment on the draft scope. - Appraisal topics referred
The DH refers technology appraisal topics to NICE. Read more about how guidance topics are chosen. - Evidence submitted
The manufacturer or sponsor of the technology is invited to provide an evidence submission. NICE also invites all non-manufacturer consultees to submit a statement on the potential clinical and cost effectiveness of a treatment. - Evidence Review Group (ERG) report prepared
NICE commissions an independent academic centre to technically review the evidence submission and prepare an ERG report. - Evaluation report prepared
This includes all of the evidence that will be looked at by the Appraisal Committee. This evidence includes:
- the ERG report
- written submissions
- patient expert personal statements
- clinical specialist personal statements
- comments received on the ERG report.
- Appraisal Committee
An independent advisory committee considers the evaluation report and hears evidence from nominated clinical experts, patients and carers. Committee discussions are held in public. Read more about the Appraisal Committee. - Appraisal consultation document (ACD)if produced
The Appraisal Committee make its provisional recommendations in the ACD. An ACD will be produced only if the recommendations from the Appraisal Committee are restrictive. A restrictive recommendation will be one that is more limited than the instructions for use that accompany the technology. Consultees and commentators have four weeks to comment on the ACD. The ACD is also made available on our website so health professionals and members of the public can comment on it. - Final appraisal determination (FAD) produced
The Appraisal Committee considers the comments on the ACD if produced, then makes its final recommendations in the FAD on how the technology should be used in the NHS in England and Wales. Consultees can appeal against the final recommendations in the FAD. - Guidance issued
If there are no appeals, or an appeal is not upheld, the final recommendations are issued as NICE guidance.
Further information
- Guide to the Single Technology Appraisal (STA) process
- Developing NICE multiple technology appraisals (MTAs)
- Single technology appraisal submission templates
- Patient access schemes liaison unit
- Guide to the methods of technology appraisal
- Agreement between the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) on guidelines for the release of company data into the public domain during a health technology appraisal
- Update to STA process regarding experts
- Information about Technology appraisal appeals
This page was last updated: 28 November 2011
