The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has announced that it is to produce a best practice guide to help trusts develop local formularies. The development of the guide is part of a move to ensure that all patients in England have access to clinically and cost-effective drugs. The press release from NICE notes that at present there is no standard process or advice for putting together a local formulary which has led to variations across the country. Additionally, a recent report into innovation from the Department of Health identified that not all local formularies are including all of NICE's technology appraisals, thus contributing to a postcode lottery.

The report also outlines plans to introduce, within three months, a NICE Compliance Regime for the funding direction attached to NICE technology appraisals to ensure rapid and consistent implementation throughout the NHS. The Department of Health will also establish a NICE Implementation Collaborative (NIC) to support the implementation of NICE guidance. The NIC will bring together the NHS Commissioning Board, NICE, the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, the main industry bodies, the NHS Confederation, the Clinical Commissioning Coalition and the Royal Colleges.