We work with a range of Welsh and UK organisations including:
The All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) advises Welsh Government about the use, management and prescribing of medicines in Wales. AWTTC support AWMSG and its subgroups.
AWMSG:
More information about AWMSG is available from the page Our committees.
We're committed to supporting Welsh Government’s national programme. AWMSG was set up in 2002 to advise Welsh Government on new and currently used medicines, and medicines prescribing and management. AWTTC also develops tools to help with implementing and auditing this advice in NHS Wales. We regularly analyse prescribing data to benchmark performance and drive improvement across NHS Wales.
We have broad geographical representation from across NHS Wales, including health boards, trusts and the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC). We aim to achieve equity of access to clinically effective and cost-effective medicines for all people in Wales. We're committed to supporting the highest quality of prescribing for people in Wales by assessing new medicines, developing and monitoring National Prescribing Indicators (NPIs), developing national guidelines and audits, and providing educational resources.
One of our key strategy recommendations centres around ‘partnership with the public’ and making sure patients and service users are involved as equal partners in our work and decisions. We're committed to working with the public to ensure patients and service users are involved in our work. For example, in 2016 we held our first Citizens’ Jury to report on antibiotic resistance.
We've set up a Patient and Public Involvement Group (PAPIG) which meets four times a year. PAPIG is a key part of our work and the group is regularly consulted on guideline development.
AWTTC monitors the implementation of our Therapeutic Development Assessment (TDA) process, for us and for the pharmaceutical industry. AWTTC staff meet regularly with representatives of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), the Ethical Medicines Industry Group (EMIG) and the All Wales Medicines Procurement Specialist Pharmacist, to allow two-way communication between industry and AWTTC. This helps to improve processes and methodologies in Wales and to share experiences of industry engagement with other health technology assessment organisations. Suggestions from these meetings are considered by our Steering Committee.
For information about collaborative working between the pharmaceutical industry and NHS organisations read our Guide to collaborative working (PDF, 246kb).
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) assesses medicines for use in the NHS in England and Wales. NICE’s guidance applies in Wales: NHS Wales must follow NICE’s decisions about newly licensed medicines and medicines with new licence extensions. If NICE recommends a medicine, healthcare professionals in Wales must be able to prescribe it for patients within 60 days of NICE's recommendation.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regulates medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion in the UK.
Recognised globally as an authority in its field, the agency plays a leading role in protecting and improving public health and supports innovation through scientific research and development.
The Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP) aims to streamline patient access to safe, financially sustainable and innovative medicines.
The ILAP is delivered in partnership by:
The National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) is the UK Departments of Health approved, and Public Health England commissioned, national service that provides expert advice on all aspects of acute and chronic poisoning.
The National Poisons Information Service is the service to which frontline NHS staff turn for advice on the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients who have been - or may have been - poisoned, either by accident or intentionally.