Med Tech-related technology assessments from NICE in February 2026

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) develops HealthTech Guidance (HTG) to evaluate HealthTech products (such as diagnostics, medical devices, and digital technologies, including artificial intelligence) and interventional procedures. The program focuses on assessing the clinical and cost-effectiveness of HealthTech products and the safety and efficacy of interventional procedures. 

NICE uses a lifecycle approach for HTG, reflecting the development stage of technology: Early use (innovative technologies with potential to address NHS unmet needs but insufficient evidence); Routine use (innovative technologies with sufficient evidence for widespread NHS adoption); Existing use (assess technologies in widespread use in the NHS to inform commissioning and procurement decisions).

NICE generally makes four types of recommendations: “Can be used” is the most favorable recommendation, meaning routine NHS use; “Can be used during the evidence generation period” – recommendation is conditional on evidence generation; “More research is needed” – limits the use to research settings only; “Should not be used”. The exception is existing use HTG, which recommends whether any technology should be used over other similar technologies in widespread NHS use, and what to consider when choosing between them. Recommendations are not binding, although they are typically followed by providers and commissioners.

In February 2026, NICE released three new HTGs:

Transcatheter tricuspid valve implantation for symptomatic severe tricuspid regurgitation is recommended during the evidence generation period as an option to treat symptomatic severe tricuspid regurgitation when open surgical tricuspid valve repair or replacement is high risk, and transcatheter tricuspid valve repair is unsuitable. More research is needed on the procedure before it can be used in the NHS when open surgical tricuspid valve repair or replacement is not high risk, or transcatheter tricuspid valve repair is suitable.

Leadless cardiac pacemaker implantation for bradyarrhythmias received different recommendations based on the indications:

• The procedure can be used as an option for right ventricular pacing alone for bradyarrhythmia;
• When transvenous pacing is unsuitable, the procedure can be used during the evidence generation period for dual-chamber pacing or right atrial pacing alone for bradyarrhythmia;
• When transvenous pacing is suitable, more research is needed on the procedure for dual-chamber pacing or right atrial pacing alone for bradyarrhythmia.

Routine-use HTG on pulmonary artery pressure technologies for remote monitoring of chronic heart failure made the following recommendations:

• CardioMEMS HF System (by Abbott) can be used as an option for remote monitoring of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class 3 chronic heart failure in adults at risk of hospitalization who are able to use the technology (with the help of a carer if necessary) and willing to adjust medication as directed;
• More research is needed (on the clinical effectiveness, the short-term impact of the technology on quality of life, and defining which groups of people the technology is most suitable for) on the Cordella Pulmonary Artery Sensor System and the Cordella Heart Failure System (by Endotronix/Edwards Lifesciences) for remote monitoring of NYHA class 3 chronic heart failure in adults before it can be funded by the NHS. 

See the full details here.

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