Med Tech-related health technology assessments in Wales in May 2025

Health Technology Wales (HTW) is a national body working to improve the quality of care in Wales. It is funded by the Welsh Government and hosted within NHS Wales but is independent of both. HTW covers medical devices, diagnostics, procedures, psychological therapies, models of care, and social care support, excluding pharmaceuticals.

HTW uses a staged process of assessment by developing three types of documents. The topic exploration report (TER) aimed to assess whether there is enough evidence to proceed with a full appraisal and whether the topic meets the appraisal selection criteria. Based on the TER conclusions, HTW's Assessment Group decides whether to progress this topic further. If yes, the following two documents can be developed: Evidence Appraisal Report (EAR) and Guidance (GUI). Recommendations are not mandatory; the status of HTW guidance is "adopt or justify," meaning that the local health board and other relevant bodies are expected to report on how they have considered the appraisal and guidance. If they have chosen not to adopt HTW guidance, they are asked to outline their rationale and justify their decision.

In May 2025, HTW accomplished one full appraisal and published an Evidence Appraisal Report and Guidance on the use of advanced electrosurgical bipolar vessel sealing (EBVS) systems during hysterectomy compared to other methods for bleeding control. HTW concluded that evidence supports routine use of advanced EBVS systems during vaginal hysterectomy, while its use in abdominal and laparoscopic hysterectomy remains uncertain and should be considered selectively in complex cases.

One Med Tech-related TER was published in May 2025 on AMBLor for identifying low-risk non-ulcerated early-stage cutaneous melanomas. AMBLor is a prognostic risk stratification test based on two protein markers (AMBRA1 and Loricrin) that are normally present in the upper layer of the skin. HTW's Assessment Group decided not to proceed with the full appraisal on this topic.

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