NICE
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance to the UK's National Health Service focusing on the clinical and cost effectiveness of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), released Sept. 29, recommends three-fold increase in utilization rate by Britons, from an estimated 17 per million in the population to 50 per million. The change could bring the usage rate in line with that of other European countries. The NICE guidance follows an extensive review of published clinical data and information submitted by ICD manufacturers (1"The Gray Sheet" Sept. 18, 2000, p. 15)....Separately, artificial hip joints become the first medical device category where performance data will be available to UK National Health Service trusts following the April release of a NICE guidance on hip prostheses. The central database will inform trusts of devices that best meet their requirements