Capturing the patient and carer voice
Understanding the experiences of patients, their families and carers is a key element in our decision making process.
It is important for SMC Committee members to fully understand how a new medicine impacts the quality of life of patients and carers. This enables them to make a fully informed decision on whether or not to recommend a new medicine.
Patients, members of their families and carers can provide unique knowledge about what it's like to live with a condition. They can explain advantages and disadvantages of medicines that may not be available in published literature or quality of life measures.
We work in partnership with patient groups to gather this information through our patient group submissions. You can find out more in the patient group submissions section of the website, or by contacting our Public Involvement team.
Health Technology Assessment international
SMC works in partnership with Health Technology Assessment international (HTAi), the global scientific and professional society for all those who carry out health technology assessments. HTAi has members from over 65 countries and embraces all stakeholders, including researchers, agencies, policy makers, industry, academia, health service providers, and patients and carers.
HTAi's vision is that patient and public perspectives improve HTA. HTAi has developed values and quality standards for patient involvement in HTAs, which SMC is committed to achieving.
