UK

In late March 2024, NHS England released the amended 2023/25 NHS Payment Scheme (NHSPS) to come into force on April 1, 2024. No changes were made to the general payment model. Eight new items were added to the High Cost Devices List, and one new device was added to the MedTech Funding Mandate. New reimbursement codes and tariffs for three types of specialist radiotherapy were introduced. Furthermore, HRG tariffs were uplifted for 2024/25.

In March 2024, the English government endorsed the UK National Screening Committee's recommendation to introduce newborn screening for hereditary tyrosinaemia type 1 (HT1). Testing for HT1 will be added to the NHS Newborn Blood Spot Screening Programme in England.

In March 2024, NHS England published twelve new service specifications defining the scope and function of clinical networks in different fields, including cardiology, intensive care, nephrology, neurosurgery, and orthopedics. Clinical networks allow specialty-level collaboration between patients, providers, and commissioners and play a vital role in coordinating pathways of care, supporting equitable access to healthcare, and assuring and improving quality.

In February 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published one new Interventional Procedures Guidance on endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty for obesity. Furthermore, one Health Technology Evaluation using early value assessment (digitally enabled therapies for adults with depression) was updated.

On March 6, 2024, Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare announced nine innovations awarded ‘Competition 23 - Child Health, Phase 1’. Funding of £885,000 is provided to support the development of innovations that improve the health and well-being of children and young people. Awarded technologies concerned e-Health, in-vitro diagnostic, pulmonology, and endocrine fields

On March 5, 2024, NICE published an integrated topic prioritization and strategic principles and launched a consultation. The deadline for submitting comments is April 4, 2024.

On February 29, 2024, NICE published interim methods and processes for a new type of guidance called Late Stage Assessment (LSA) in HealthTech and launched a consultation. The document defines the objectives of the LSA, stakeholders involved, timelines, topic selection, approach to assessing the evidence, economic evaluation, and recommendations. The deadline for submitting comments is March 28, 2024.

In January 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in England released one Med Tech-related assessment in its Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Journal, which concerned bariatric surgery in adults with severe obesity in Scotland. HTA Journal publishes research reports on the effectiveness, costs, and broader impact of health technologies for those who use, manage, and provide care in the NHS and informs National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.

On January 26, 2024, NHS England announced the third round of the Innovation Open Call, funded by the NHS Cancer Programme. All types of late-stage innovations aimed at early detection and diagnosis of cancer are eligible, including medical devices, in-vitro diagnostics, digital health solutions, and AI. Awarded projects will be 100% funded up to the total value of £4 million to produce and evaluate evidence in a real-world setting, supporting adoption and spread by providers, commissioners, and regulators. The application submission will be open on April 8, 2024.

On January 22, 2024, NHS England published a 5-year implementation strategy for Hybrid closed loop (HCL) technologies following the NICE technology appraisal (TA943) publication. As a rule, commissioners and providers must implement TA recommendations within three months. However, an agreed five-year implementation will allow NHS to build specialist competencies and cost-effective procurement. NHS England will fund integrated care boards to reimburse the use of HCL systems

In January 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published three new Interventional Procedure Guidance (intravascular lithotripsy in peripheral arterial disease, temperature control after cardiac arrest, and pharyngeal electrical stimulation for neurogenic dysphagia) and one new Diagnostics Guidance (AI-derived software to help clinical decision making in stroke). Furthermore, one Diagnostics Guidance and five clinical guidelines were updated.

On February 5, 2024, NICE published proposed methods and processes to include technology appraisal recommendations in the clinical guidelines and launched a consultation. The deadline for submitting comments is March 15, 2024.