Section 7 of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Constitution and Functions) and the Health and Social Care Information Centre (Functions) Regulations 2013 requires integrated care boards, NHS England and, with respect to their public health functions, local authorities to comply with the recommendations in this evaluation within 3 months of its date of publication.
The Welsh ministers have issued directions to the NHS in Wales on implementing NICE technology appraisal guidance. When a NICE technology appraisal guidance recommends the use of a drug or treatment, or other technology, the NHS in Wales must usually provide funding and resources for it within 2 months of the first publication of the final draft guidance.
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 person has chronic hepatitis C and the healthcare professional responsible for their care thinks that ombitasvir–paritaprevir–ritonavir with or without dasabuvir 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 ombitasvir–paritaprevir–ritonavir and dasabuvir. 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.