Health authorities announce public input on revised Health Technology Programme Guideline by NICE
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has announced a consultation on its updated HealthTech programme manual, aiming to refine the guidance and processes for assessing health technologies. This consultation, open until September 4, 2025, invites stakeholders to comment on changes aimed at improving clarity and robustness in the assessment framework.
The consultation comes at a critical time for NICE, following scrutiny from industry over recent Late-Stage Assessment (LSA) pilots. NICE plans to address industry concerns by clarifying the scope and assessment boundaries early and encouraging stakeholder engagement throughout the evaluation process. The manual updates emphasize transparent frameworks for how technologies, such as machine perfusion devices for liver transplants, are reviewed at stages closer to market adoption, helping reduce uncertainty for manufacturers and clinicians.
The revision includes the incorporation of formal processes for assessing technologies already in use within the NHS, known as late-stage assessments (LSA). This move could potentially speed up the implementation of innovative technologies like robotic surgery systems, which the UK agency has recently approved. The NHS's commitment to early MedTech adoption and the approval of robotic surgery systems could be significant for the UK's healthcare sector, potentially boosting the country's healthcare technology sector.
Chris Whitehouse, a political consultant and expert on medical technology policy and regulation, reported on this consultation. Whitehouse, who is also an advisor to MedTech suppliers, highlighted the importance of the consultation in shaping the future direction of the NICE HealthTech programme. The consultation provides an important opportunity for the industry to voice their concerns and suggestions, contributing to a more effective and efficient HealthTech assessment process.
An article titled "MedTech in the UK and EU: What to Expect in 2025" is available in "Medical Device Manufacturing Insights". This article might offer predictions about the future of MedTech in these regions, providing valuable insights for stakeholders in the healthcare technology sector.
In summary, the NICE consultation focuses on improving the assessment manual to ensure a clearer, more predictable, and stakeholder-responsive process, particularly addressing industry concerns about the timing and conduct of LSAs to better support technology adoption decisions. The consultation is open until September 4, 2025, and can be found at the provided link.
- The updates to NICE's HealthTech programme manual aim to enhance the assessment of health technologies in medical-conditions, including machine perfusion devices for liver transplants, as well as innovative technologies like robotic surgery systems, which fall under the category of health-and-wellness.
- The consultation process invites stakeholders in the healthcare technology sector, such as MedTech suppliers and political consultants like Chris Whitehouse, to voice their concerns and suggestions to shape the future direction of the NICE HealthTech programme, contributing to a more robust science-based evaluation.
