Tocilizumab for the treatment of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis

The Secretary of State and the Welsh Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services have issued directions to the NHS in England and Wales on implementing NICE technology appraisal guidance. When a NICE technology appraisal recommends use of a drug or treatment, or other technology, the NHS must usually provide funding and resources for it within 3 months of the guidance being published. If the Department of Health issues a variation to the 3-month funding direction, details will be available on the NICE website. When there is no NICE technology appraisal guidance on a drug, treatment or other technology, decisions on funding should be made locally.

The Department of Health and the manufacturer have agreed that tocilizumab will be available to the NHS with a patient access scheme in which tocilizumab for the treatment of systemic JIA will be available with a discount applied to all invoices. The level of the discount is commercial in confidence. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to communicate the level of the discount to the relevant NHS organisations. Any enquiries from NHS organisations about the patient access scheme should be directed to Roche Customer Care (0800 731 5711).

NICE has developed tools to help organisations put this guidance into practice (listed below). These are available on our website.

• A costing statement explaining the resource impact of this guidance.

• Audit support for monitoring local practice.