UK

On February 7, 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published a manual for a new HealthTech program and launched a consultation. The HealthTech program will produce two types of guidance: Interventional Procedures guidance and HealthTech guidance (replacing former Medical Technologies guidance and Diagnostics guidance). The deadline for comments submission is March 6, 2025.

In January 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new Interventional Procedures Guidance (Transperineal laser ablation for lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, electrically stimulated intravesical therapy for interstitial cystitis or overactive bladder) and one new Early Value Assessment (Artificial intelligence technologies to help detect fractures on X-rays in urgent care). Furthermore, one new clinical guideline was published, and one was updated.

On January 16, 2025, NHS England published an updated work plan for specialized clinical commissioning policies production. One Med Tech-related policy in the neuromodulation field was added to the work plan. No policies have been published since the previous update.

In December 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in England released four Med Tech-related assessments in its HTA Journal, which concerned cervical ripening during labor induction in different settings, fasciectomy surgery for Dupuytren's contracture in adults, hybrid closed-loop systems in type 1 diabetes, point-of-care tests for urinary tract infections. 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 NICE guidance.

In December 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published three new Interventional Procedures Guidance (Direct skeletal fixation of limb prostheses using an intraosseous transcutaneous implant, MRI-guided focused ultrasound subthalamotomy and thalamotomy for treating Parkinson’s), one new Diagnostic Guidance (Home-testing devices for diagnosing OSAHS) and one new Early Value Assessment (Digital technologies to support self-management of COPD).

On December 5, 2024, NHS England announced the next steps in delegating commissioning responsibilities for prescribed specialized services to local commissioners - integrated care boards (ICBs). These include the final list of 70 specialized services delegated to all ICBs starting from April 2025

On December 4, 2024, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) launched a consultation on whether to offer human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling option to under-screened people in the cervical cancer screening program alongside traditional clinician-collected sampling by a nurse or doctor. The deadline for comments submission is February 26, 2025.

On November 28, 2024, NHS England published a report summarising the Innovation Ecosystem Programme’s (IEP) findings and recommendations for the next steps. The IEP aimed to foster collaboration between the NHS and key stakeholders (industry, academia, and regulators) to streamline healthcare innovation. Recommendations are summarised in four areas: a) setting the direction, b) structures and tools for delivery, c) people, skills, and capabilities, and d) acceleration.

In November 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published one new Interventional Procedures Guidance concerning endoscopic bipolar radiofrequency ablation for malignant biliary obstruction. Furthermore, one new clinical guideline was published, and two were updated.

In November 2024, NICE introduced CHEERS-AI - a new reporting standard for health economic evaluations of AI technologies. This will help healthcare decision-makers understand the value of AI-enabled treatments, allowing patients to access the most promising ones faster.

In October 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in England released seven Med Tech-related assessments in its HTA Journal, which concerned the Genedrive kit, timing of stoma closure in neonates, interventions in perceptual disorders after stroke, revascularisation strategy for chronic limb ischemia, MRI software and cognitive fusion biopsies in prostate cancer, transperineal prostate biopsy devices, and ultraviolet therapy in severe eczema. 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 NICE guidance.

In October 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new Diagnostics Guidance concerning heart failure algorithms for remote monitoring in people with cardiac implantable electronic devices and digital technologies for assessing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.