Section 7(6) of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Constitution and Functions) and the Health and Social Care Information Centre (Functions) Regulations 2013 requires clinical commissioning groups, NHS England and, with respect to their public health functions, local authorities to comply with the recommendations in this appraisal within 3 months of its date of publication.
The Welsh Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services has issued directions to the NHS in Wales on implementing NICE technology appraisal guidance. When a NICE technology appraisal recommends the use of a drug or treatment, or other technology, the NHS in Wales must usually provide funding and resources for it within 3 months of the guidance being published.
When NICE recommends a treatment 'as an option', the NHS must make sure it is available within the period set out in the paragraphs above. This means that, if a patient has moderately to severely active Crohn's disease and the doctor responsible for their care thinks that ustekinumab is the right treatment, it should be available for use, in line with NICE's recommendations.
The contract prices used for decision-making in this appraisal are the relevant prices the NHS pays for ustekinumab. These prices are based on contract pricing arrangements between the company and the Commercial Medicines Unit. The contract prices are commercial in confidence. Any enquiries from NHS organisations about the contract prices used in this appraisal should be directed to the Commercial Medicines Unit.