Drug information key to NHS Evidence
This article was originally published in Scrip
Drug information and prescribing guidance will be a major part of the new NHS (National Health Service) Evidence portal to be launched in April next year, says England'sdepartment of health.
NHS Evidence will provide health professionals and patients with high quality clinical information and evidence on a single portal with the aim of promoting the safe and effective use of medicines. Plans for the project were outlined in Lord Darzi's High Quality Care for All – the NHS Next Stage Review Final Report.
NICE, the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence, is to assume responsibility for providing this information. Basic drug reference information is currently provided to the NHS through the department of health's purchase of the British National Formulary (BNF) and the British National Formulary for Children (BNFC) for healthcare professionals. This contract will transfer to NICE from April 2009. Pharmacists, doctors and others use the BNF and BNFC publications as a reference sources on medicines.