Technology Appraisal Committee

NICE technology appraisal recommendations are prepared by an independent committee called the Technology Appraisal Committee. Committee members are appointed for a three-year term, and are drawn from:

• the NHS
• patient and carer organisations
• academia
• pharmaceutical and medical devices industries

The Technology Appraisal Committee is divided into three branches. Committee members are allocated to one of the three branches and will normally remain in the same branch for the duration of their membership.

Although the Technology Appraisal Committee seeks the views of organisations representing health professionals, patients, carers, manufacturers and government, its advice is independent of any vested interests.

• Committee A members
• Committee B members
• Committee C members
• Minutes
• Technology Appraisals Advisory Committee - terms of reference
• Technology Appraisals Advisory Committee - standing orders

Consultees and commentators

Consultee organisations include:

• national groups representing patients and carers
• bodies representing health professionals
• manufacturers of the technology under review.

Consultees can submit evidence during the appraisal, comment on the appraisal documents and appeal against the Appraisal Committee’s final recommendations.

Commentator organisations include:

• manufacturers of the products with which the technology is being compared
• NHS Quality Improvement Scotland
• research groups working in the area.

Commentators can comment on the evidence and other documents but are not asked to submit evidence themselves.