NICE has marked its new five-year strategy with a virtual launch event.

More than 3,000 people attended the launch of the strategy which covers 2021 to 2026.

Chief executive Gillian Leng said: "We remain absolutely committed to our core purpose of improving health and wellbeing by putting science and evidence at the heart of decision making but, through this plan, we will aim to become more dynamic, flexible and responsive. 

"Our strategy outlines how we will develop our products, processes, and partnerships in the coming years. 

"It sets out how we will cultivate our approach to be more responsive, using a range of sources of data and evidence, while retaining our independent, robust methods."

Four 'strategic pillars' have been set out by NICE to underpin its work over the next five years. They are:

  • Rapid, robust and responsive technology evaluation.
  • Dynamic, living guideline recommendations.
  • Effective guidance uptake to maximise impact.
  • Leadership in data, research and science.

Rapid, robust and responsive technology evaluation

NICE is streamlining how it evaluates new technologies.

It aims to be at the forefront of rapidly evaluating new and existing technologies to provide independent, world-leading assessments of value for the system and improved access for patients.

This includes the launch of a new office for digital health and a life sciences hub on the website. 

Dynamic, living guideline recommendations

NICE plans to make its guidelines easier to access and use, creating rapidly updated ‘living’ guideline recommendations so health and care professionals can make informed, shared decisions with patients. 

This will begin with a new digital platform to produce guidelines in a new interactive format.

Effective guidance uptake to maximise impact

NICE is aiming to strengthen existing strategic partnerships and forge new ones to ensure its recommendations are used, deliver improvements and contribute to reducing inequalities.

This will include measures to track adoption and seeking to embed recommendations in decision support systems and partners’ regulatory, monitoring and improvement frameworks. 

Leadership in data, research and science

NICE hopes to use its insight and expertise to drive the research agenda. 

It plans to develop 'innovative and data-driven methods' to resolve issues of uncertainty and improve access to new, cost-effective innovations for patients. 

A new approach to deliberative public engagement will be established ensuring methods for dealing with complex and controversial issues reflect the values of informed members of the public.

Find out more 

The full strategy is now available to download from the NICE website.

On the same page, you can find a summary of the strategy, including what it will mean for:

  • Guideline users
  • Public and patients
  • The life sciences industry
  • International partners and health organisations

A video of the virtual launch is also available to view on the page.