CEDAR was established in 1977 to evaluate medical devices for the UK Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS). Prior to 2005, CEDAR’s evaluation programme was managed by the Device Evaluation Service of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (formerly the Medical Devices Agency). This early work focussed heavily on physical testing of new medical technology.
From 2005 to March 2010 CEDAR worked for the Centre for Evidence-based Purchasing (CEP), which formed part of the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA). The focus of CEDAR’s work widened to include critical review of evidence, a broader range of medical topics and incorporation of health economics. NHS PASA and CEP dissolved in March 2010. The Department of Health website has archived the CEP catalogue.
Evaluation of medical technologies for the NHS is now provided by the the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). CEDAR is an external assessment Centre to NICE in the Medical Technologies Evaluation Programme.