Once a topic has been determined as eligible for selection, a briefing is developed to support decision making. The briefing includes:
a description of the technology
intended use and position in the care pathway
regulatory status
relevant evidence
input from the company or person who suggested the topic
related NICE guidance and guidelines.
The briefing may also include the following information:
input from the regulator
input from the committee
input from relevant organisations (such as NHS England and Improvement, NHSX, Academic Health Science Networks, Office for Life Sciences and NHS Supply Chain)
input from relevant experts (such as patient, clinical and academic experts).
NICE develops topic briefings on devices, diagnostics and digital health technologies.
A subgroup of the topic selection oversight panel (see section 8) with specific expertise decides which topic briefings on devices, diagnostics and digital health technologies to publish as medtech innovation briefings (MIBs). These are developed following the MIBs process and methods statement.
The subgroup makes these decisions by considering:
Is there need for information about the topic?
Is there potential for useful clinical or system outcomes, quality of life, cost and resource impact?
Is there publicly available evidence or information relevant to the technology that can be summarised and critically appraised?
Is there NICE guidance or high quality, up-to-date reviews from a NICE-accredited source already available?
If the device, diagnostic and digital health technology topic is not selected for briefing development, the company or the person who suggested the topic to NICE is informed of:
the decision
the reasons why
whether the topic can be reconsidered for a MIB or NICE guidance in future.
NICE develops a topic briefing on all interventional procedures. For some topics, development of the briefing may be postponed until relevant information is available (such as clinical opinions, regulatory information, or evidence). The topic is progressed as soon as NICE is made aware that the information is available.
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Innovation Observatory develops topic briefings on medicines.