December 2025 Med Tech-related health technology assessments from the NIHR in England

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funds valuable independent research for health and social care decision-makers in England. Reports from the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme are published in the NIHR HTA Journal and inform the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance. 

In December 2025, three Med Tech-related assessments were published in the NIHR HTA Journal, including the following:

• Cost-effectiveness of endoscopic treatments for obesity: a clinical evidence map and systematic review to inform a model-based cost-effectiveness analysis. The study aimed to evaluate the current evidence for the clinical and cost-effectiveness of endoscopic treatments compared to alternative weight management interventions for obesity. Based on three designed economic models, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was likely to be cost-effective compared to endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty for patients with obesity classes II and III (£10,593 per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY)). Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is cost-effective compared with semaglutide for patients with obesity class I and II (£7,267 per QALY). Semaglutide is cheaper and more effective than the intragastric balloon in patients with obesity class I and II. There were no randomized controlled trials for the treatments compared in the economic models, and there was little or no direct comparative evidence. Long-term data were also limited. As a result, the economic model relied on several assumptions;
• Evaluating whole genome sequencing for rare diseases in newborn screening based on evidence synthesis from a series of systematic reviews. The systematic review approach for evaluating whole genome sequencing of newborns identified a paucity of high-quality evidence. It was concluded that extending the review to all 200 conditions is not feasible. Currently, the use of existing genome resources and review of genomic studies of newborn screening cohorts are not viable alternatives. The cost-effectiveness of whole genome sequencing in a newborn screening context is unknown.

Another assessment, published in December 2025, focused on a tele-ophthalmology-enabled and AI-ready referral pathway for community optometry referrals related to retinal disease.

See the full details here.

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