UK

In September 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published three new Interventional Procedure Guidance on transapical transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantation for a failed surgically implanted mitral valve bioprosthesis, transapical transcatheter mitral valve-in-ring (TMVIR) after failed annuloplasty for mitral valve repair, and lateral elbow resurfacing for arthritis

In August 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published three new Interventional Procedure Guidance (magnetic resonance therapy for knee osteoarthritis, laparoscopic removal of uterine fibroids with power morcellation, hysteroscopic mechanical tissue removal for uterine fibroids), and six new Medtech Innovation Briefings (PLASMA system with button electrode, Immunoscore, MMprofiler, Patient Status Engine, lung texture analysis, Colli-Pee). Also, five clinical guidelines were published.

In August 2021, NHS announced rolling out genetic testing for monogenic diabetes and placental growth factor (PLGF) testing to rule out pre-eclampsia. These decisions are made in line with the NHS Long Term Plan committed to increasing access to genomic testing, improving diabetes care across the country, and investing in cutting-edge technologies.

On August 31, 2021, NHSX published a set of guidelines for digitized healthcare, including the Unified Tech Fund (UTF) prospectus, which seeks to simplify and consolidate the process for accessing technology funding. The UTF brings together several national technology funds. This amounts to £680 million available to NHS organizations throughout the financial year 2021 to 2022. The applications submission is open from August 31, 2021.

On August 31, 2021, NHSX published a set of guidelines for digitized healthcare to support Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) and individual health and care organizations to transform services for patients. Three guidelines are available now to help local leaders to accelerate digital transformation in their organizations and support the NHS Long Term commitment to digitize the entire NHS for the benefit of patients and staff.

The Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) is a national health technology assessment (HTA) agency providing advice to NHSScotland on the use of new and existing health technologies (excluding medicines), likely to have a significant impact on healthcare. In the second quarter of 2021, SHTG published only one assessment on the detection of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in patients with newly diagnosed ischaemic stroke.

On August 05, 2021, NHS England published an update of the Specialized Services Policy Pipeline (covering April 27, 2021 - July 27, 2021). No new MedTech-related Clinical Commissioning Policies were added to the work program. Nine new policies were published; however, only two concerned MedTech (ECMO and brachytherapy). The status of ongoing policies was updated as well.

In July 2021, the UK Government released its Life Sciences Vision, which sets out a 10-year strategy for the Life Sciences sector to address the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and some of our generation's most pressing healthcare challenges, such as cancer, obesity, dementia. This Vision is a high-level document that does not set out the specific programs. The Government will set out its detailed delivery plan later, and the Sector will have the opportunity to decide where it wishes to co-invest.

The NHS Digital has opened the application period for changes in the OPCS-4 nomenclature of procedure codes, which is updated every three years. The applications can be submitted via Request Submission Portal not later than October 01, 2021, to be implemented in the OPCS-4.10 version from April 01, 2023.

In late July 2021, NHS England opened a call for applications to the High Cost Device List (HCDL) changes for the 2022/23 National Tariff Payment System. The completed application form should be submitted via email by September 30, 2021. HCDL is an add-on reimbursement for medical devices and in-vitro diagnostic tests, so the amount is paid in addition to the payment for regular care.

In July 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published one new Interventional Procedure Guidance (inducing and maintaining normothermia using temperature modulation devices to improve outcomes after stroke or subarachnoid hemorrhage) and four new Medtech Innovation Briefings (HealthVCF for detecting vertebral compression fractures on CT scans, trublood-prostate for triaging and diagnosing people with prostate cancer symptoms, AI technologies for detecting diabetic retinopathy, and Acumen IQ sensor for predicting hypotension risk).

In June 2021, NICE announced developing a multi-agency advisory service for developers and adopters of artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven technologies, funded by NHS AI Lab. NICE is working in partnership with the Care Quality Commission, Health Research Authority, and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.