5 Implementation

5.1 Section 7(6) of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Constitution and Functions) and the Health and Social Care Information Centre (Functions) Regulations 2013 requires clinical commissioning groups, NHS England and, with respect to their public health functions, local authorities to comply with the recommendations in this appraisal within 3 months of its date of publication.

5.2 The Welsh Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services has issued directions to the NHS in Wales on implementing NICE technology appraisal guidance. When a NICE technology appraisal recommends the use of a drug or treatment, or other technology, the NHS in Wales must usually provide funding and resources for it within 3 months of the guidance being published.

5.3 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 patient has chronic hepatitis C and the doctor responsible for their care thinks that sofosbuvir–velpatasvir is the right treatment, it should be available for use, in line with NICE's recommendations.

5.4 The company has arranged a simple discount agreement which provides a discount to the list price of sofosbuvir–velpatasvir at the point of purchase or invoice. The level of the discount is commercial in confidence. It is the responsibility of the company to communicate details of the discount to the relevant NHS organisations. Any enquiries from NHS organisations about the simple discount agreement should be directed to the company's customer service on +44 (0)203 681 4681 or at UKcustomer.services@gilead.com.