NICE syndication API

Embed our content in your products and services.

Our application programming interface (API) makes NICE content accessible through your platforms, systems and services. It ensures you always have access to the most up to date content and provides a quality assured process to supply content in accessible digital formats.

Login to your API account

Available content

Subject to agreement, you can use our syndication service to access all our current published guidance, including quality standards and information for the public. 

Content not available

Clinical knowledge summaries are provided by Agilio Software, please contact them directly to access their content API. 

British National Formulary content is available for syndication through its own API. This is subject to criteria and technical specification.

Previous versions of NICE guidance, withdrawn guidance and information published as part of guidance development are not available through the NICE API.

Who can apply? 

The NICE API is available for use by companies, institutions and organisations, not individuals.

Organisations must hold cyber security certification to access the NCE API. The following forms of certification are currently accepted:

  • Cyber Essentials PLUS

  • ISO27001

  • NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit (for public sector bodies in the UK only).

We will consider different forms of certification for companies applying from outside the UK, please state these in your application.

NICE cannot consider requests from individual students. NICE will consider applications submitted by universities or other educational bodies. The organisation will need to be prepared to sign a licence and provide the required cyber security certification.

Can I use Artificial Intelligence on NICE content?

If you wish to use artificial intelligence on NICE content in any system, platform or service available to end users (internally or externally) you must access NICE content through the API.

Please state clearly and in detail how you want to use AI on NICE content in your application form. The use of NICE content to train, fine-tune or weight Generative AI or large language models is not permitted.

How it works

Syndicated content is provided through an application programming interface (API).

If your application is accepted, you will receive a unique API key. This provides access to NICE content for use in the specific services set out in your licence.

Someone with technical knowledge will need to integrate the API key with your platforms and systems. Our user guide will help you get started.

NICE syndication service and application programming interface (API) guide.

Licences

All requests to use our content via the syndication service will be covered by a licence signed by both parties.

  • a test licence allows you to develop a proof of concept/product/service or undertake research, NICE content cannot be made available to users other than within a test environment

  • a service licence allows you to use NICE content in a product or service made available to users (internal or external).

New applicants will initially be offered a test licence for 3-6 months to develop their service (12 months can be offered if for research purposes only).

Example syndication licences are provided below.

Delivery formats in the API

  • Text/html

  • Application/atom+xml

  • Application/vnd.nice.syndication.services+json

  • Application/vnd.nice.syndication.services+xml.

Is there a cost?

A test or service licence to use NICE content within the UK only, is free.

The following licence fees apply to the use of NICE content outside the UK:

  • international test licence (up to 6 months) - £550

  • annual service licence (Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories) - £240

  • annual service licence (Worldwide) - £60,000

  • annual service licence (select countries or regions) – price available on application.

Service licences are available for select countries or regions only, pricing is based on the GDP of the countries covered.

How to apply

Step 1

Complete and submit the application form

Ensure any proposed use of AI is clearly explained. Please ensure you complete the application form in detail. Application forms which are vague, lacking a clear use case or do not provide detailed responses will be rejected.

Step 2

NICE will review your application and if approved:

  • confirm the type of licence and licence term offered

  • set out any licence fee payable for use outside the UK.

Step 3

If you accept the licence offer, we will agree and sign the licence. You will create a NICE account to access the syndication service.

Agreeing the licence will take longer for full licences

Step 4

We will provide you with an API key so you can access NICE content through the API.

If there are licence fees these will then be invoiced.

Please email reuseofcontent@nice.org.uk if you have any questions.

How do I move from a Test licence to using NICE content in a live service?

Once your development is complete, contact the licensing team to arrange a demonstration of your system.

You will need to demonstrate:

  • how the NICE content is processed

  • what outputs are created

  • how NICE content is attributed

  • the quality assurance measures you have in place. 

The licensing team will also need to agree the protection measures you have in place to ensure NICE content is only used in the countries requested in your licence.

NICE will then agree a service licence with you and any fees. Once the licence is signed you can use NICE content in your service.  

Case study: Elsevier's clinical search engine

Elsevier is an information analytics company that provides over 25% of the world's clinical content. They used our syndication service to import NICE guidelines into their ClinicalKey search engine. Clinicians can use this to access information and inform their clinical decisions.

Elsevier's clinical search engine example

How did you find using the syndication service and API?

"The NICE syndication service provides a quality assured process to deliver digital content - an important requirement for robust and efficient data retrieval. The API, which is based on web services and REST principles, was a good fit with our solution architecture.

"Developers found the API intuitive and straightforward to use. The 'Guidance Data Service' is used via the API to transfer guidelines content into ClinicalKey. An import using the REST service, which returns XML formatted data, is fetched daily via the API. This augments the existing content within ClinicalKey's content database.

"The data returned from the API allows accurate indexing and categorisation of the guidelines within ClinicalKey, resulting in an excellent search and viewing experience for the end user."

How does NICE content benefit your users and business?

"Having NICE guidelines in our clinical solutions is extremely beneficial to users looking for evidence based recommendations relevant to their healthcare setting.

"Healthcare professionals can embed clinical decision support based on trusted recommendations directly into their workflow, supporting their decision making process at point of care.

"NICE guidelines extend and complement our existing evidence based offerings. They make sure our solutions meet the needs of clinicians and decision makers in the NHS and other healthcare bodies in the UK."

"Demand for NICE guidelines in ClinicalKey is not just limited to the UK; Elsevier's global customer base can now benefit from access to these guidelines. Usage is expected to be high outside the UK due to NICE being internationally recognised as a contributor to better health outcomes across the world."