How are you taking part in this consultation?

You will not be able to change how you comment later.

You must be signed in to answer questions

    The content on this page is not current guidance and is only for the purposes of the consultation process.

    2 NICE integrated topic prioritisation manual

    This manual sets out the process for how new guidance topics and updates to existing NICE guidance are identified, prioritised and routed at NICE. 'Topic prioritisation' covers prioritisation of new topics and updates to existing NICE guidance.

    For the methods and processes used to develop specific types of guidance, see NICE's health technology evaluations: the manual, NICE's interventional procedures programme manual and Developing NICE guidelines: the manual.

    The types of NICE guidance that will be considered by this integrated topic prioritisation manual include:

    2.1 Guidelines or guideline topic areas

    A guideline usually includes recommendations on topic areas in clinical care (primary, secondary and community care), social care and public health.

    2.2 Health technologies guidance

    Health technologies guidance includes guidance on diagnostics, devices, digital health technologies and interventional procedures. Examples of diagnostics and devices include technologies, techniques, strategies and pathways that help diagnose, prognose, predict or symptomatically screen for health conditions, and technologies that treat or prevent a health condition (including digital health technologies listed in tier C of NICE's evidence standards framework for digital health technologies). Examples of interventional procedures include new or significantly modified procedures that involve making an incision, a puncture or entry into a body cavity, or use ionising, electromagnetic or acoustic energy. This also includes established procedures where safety, efficacy or costs need to be reviewed.

    2.3 Medicines

    These are new active substances in their first indication or that have extensions to their marketing authorisation to add a significant new therapeutic indication (see the 2024 Department of Health and Social Care voluntary scheme for branded medicines, pricing, access and growth).

    2.4 Combination or integrated topics

    These are combinations of more than 1 type of intervention (either sequentially or simultaneously) to achieve or enhance the intended effect. Examples include using several medicines with distinct mechanisms of action to form a combination regimen, using a medical device with an app or software to deliver a medicine, virtual wards integrated topic advice that include a clinical guideline and health technology guidance.

    2.5 Other topics that have patient benefits

    Other topics are eligible to be considered if they are regulated (or seeking regulation) as a medicine or medical device or have patient benefits with assurance for safety and performance. Examples include human tissue products (for example, donor organs), interventions delivered by healthcare professionals (for example, laboratory testing or techniques, or rehabilitation programmes) and vitamins that are regulated as a medicine because they are used to prevent or treat a specific condition.