Evaluation Pathway Programme for Medical Technologies
What is the NICE Evaluation Pathway
Evaluation Pathway programme focuses specifically on the evaluation of innovative medical technologies (including devices and diagnostics). This programme both compliments and operate in conjunction with NICE’s existing technology appraisal capacity, which will continue to evaluate new pharmaceutical and biotechnology products. The EP programme is designed to help the NHS adopt effective and cost effective medical devices and diagnostics more rapidly and consistently.
The types of products which might be included are medical devices that deliver treatment such as those implanted during surgical procedures, technologies that give greater independence to patients, and diagnostic devices or tests used to detect or monitor medical conditions.
Sir Andrew Dillon, NICE Chief Executive, “This is a new initiative for NICE that will play to our key strengths of producing the best quality advice based on the most up-to-date evidence. It’s good news for patients and manufacturers, as well as the NHS because it will drive the adoption and diffusion of innovative medical technologies more quickly and simply and deliver improved efficiency and value for money. In addition, we hope that the evaluation pathway will provide an opportunity for collaborative (NHS and industry) research to generate clinical effectiveness data on innovative technologies where this is needed.”
How did it come into being
The establishment of this programme follows the acknowledgement in the 2008 report ‘High quality care for all’ of the need to simplify the pathway by which medical technologies pass from development into wider use.
NICE was asked by the Department of Health to coordinate the evaluation of innovative medical devices and diagnostics used in the NHS. The new work programme follows recognition in Lord Darzi’s Next Stage Review of the need to improve the process of identifying, evaluating and adopting effective new medical devices and diagnostics.
What we do
The Evaluation Pathway Programme supports the Medical Technologies Advisory Committee. Its functions will include identifying and selecting innovative medical technologies and routing these products to the appropriate NICE guidance production programme. The Committee will also develop its own recommendations to be issued as Medical Technologies Guidance.
Medical Technologies Advisory Committee (MTAC)
Professor Bruce Campbell Chairs the Medical Technologies Advisory Committee. Chair of NICE’s Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee since 2002, Professor Campbell has extensive experience of NICE’s evaluation processes and guidance production. The Committee comprises 25 independent specialists covering a broad range of medical technology and evaluation expertise. Read more about the Medical Technologies Advisory Committee.
Contact us
Please send all enquires relating to the Evaluation Pathway Programme to nice@nice.org.uk