YHEC is an external assessment group (EAG) for the Medical Technologies Evaluation Programme (MTEP) at NICE.

The EAG is commissioned by NICE to provide independent assessment of the evidence for medical technologies and related economic analysis, as well as providing methodological and analytical support to NICE.

The Medical Technologies Evaluation Programme (MTEP) selects and evaluates new or innovative medical technologies (including devices and diagnostics). MTEP helps the NHS adopt efficient and cost-effective medical devices and diagnostics more rapidly and consistently.

 

The Medical Technologies Advisory Committee (MTAC), which is part of the MTEP programme, has two separate functions:

  • To select medical devices and diagnostics for which NICE should produce guidance and then route the selected technology to the appropriate NICE guidance producing programme, and;
  • To develop guidance on technologies, which is issued by NICE as Medical Technologies Guidance.

We also have a central role in developing and facilitating independent research products when NICE medical technology or diagnostics guidance recommends that further research should be carried out.

 

YHEC is the Economic and Methodological Unit (EMU) for the NICE Public Health and Social Care Centre (PHSCC), supported by the Centre for Health Economics (CHE).

The EMU is commissioned by NICE to produce the economic analyses, associated economic models and cost-effectiveness reviews to aid NICE's Public Health Advisory Committees in guideline development. In addition, the EMU is commissioned to carry out projects to address methodological issues identified by the PHSCC.

NICE public health guidelines make recommendations on interventions that can help prevent disease or improve health. The guidelines are aimed at public health professionals, practitioners and others with a direct or indirect role in public health. This may be within the NHS, local authorities, the wider public, voluntary, community and private sectors.

YHEC develops models for around five guidelines each year as well as methods papers, and some examples of our work are included below:

 

Methods papers

Evidence Requirements to Demonstrate Clinical Equivalence and Non-Inferiority

 

Models for public health guidelines

Flu Vaccination: Increasing Uptake

An economic evaluation of different interventions to promote tobacco harm reduction

Supplementary analysis - An economic evaluation of different interventions to promote tobacco harm reduction

Smoking Cessation Interventions and Services

Economic Analysis of Interventions for Smoking Cessation Aimed at Pregnant Women

An Economic Evaluation of Interventions to Improve the Uptake of Vitamin D Supplements in England and Wales

Sunlight Exposure: Communicating the Benefits and Risks of Ultraviolet Light to the General Population: Cost-Effectiveness Model

Indoor Air Quality at Home Economic Model Report

Workplace Health: Long-Term Sickness Absence and Capability to Work

Alcohol Interventions in Secondary and Further Education: Economic Model

Community Pharmacy: Promoting Health and Wellbeing

Physical Activity and the Environment

Economic Analysis of Oral Health Improvement Programmes and Interventions

Examining the Cost-Effectiveness of Moving the Healthy Start Vitamin Programme from a Targeted to a Universal Offering: Cost-Effectiveness Systematic Review

 

YHEC, in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, was the National Collaborating Centre for Indicator Development to NICE between 2009 and 2017.

YHEC was commissioned to develop an approach to the assessment of the cost-effectiveness of new indicators for the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF). YHEC provided economic analysis to the NICE Indicator Advisory Committee twice yearly for new performance indicators, which were piloted and assessed by the University of Birmingham. This involved net benefit analysis of the impact of incentivising primary care to adopt relevant NICE recommendations across a range of diseases and conditions.