Highly specialised technologies evaluation committee

Our recommendations on the use of highly specialised technologies are made by an independent advisory committee.

This is called the highly specialised technologies evaluation committee (HSTEC).

Committee members

Members are appointed for a 3-year term, and are drawn from:

  • the NHS

  • patient and carer organisations

  • academia

  • pharmaceuticals and medical device industries.

Although the committee seeks the views of organisations representing health professionals, patients, carers, manufacturers and government, its advice is independent of any vested interests.

Consultees and commentators

Consultee organisations include:

  • local and national groups representing patients and carers

  • bodies representing health professionals

  • manufacturer(s) or sponsor(s) of the technology in development

  • the Department of Health and Social Care

  • specialised commissioning groups.

Consultees can submit evidence during the evaluation, comment on the evaluation documents and appeal against the committee's final recommendations. In addition, consultee organisations are asked to nominate patient experts, commissioning experts or clinical specialists.

Commentator organisations include:

  • manufacturers of comparator technologies

  • Welsh Government

  • the relevant National Collaborating Centre (a group commissioned by NICE to develop clinical guidelines), if relevant

  • research groups working in the area

  • other groups, including:

    • British National Formulary

    • Scottish Medicines Consortium

    • Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

    • Department of Health and Social Care, Social Services and Public Safety for Northern Ireland

    • professional or patient organisations covering Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland only.

We invite commentators to take part in the evaluation process and comment on the various documents produced.

Next meeting dates

Our highly specialised technologies evaluation committee meetings are currently being held virtually.

  • Thursday 21 August 2025

  • Thursday 18 September 2025

  • Thursday 23 October 2025

  • Thursday 20 November 2025

  • Thursday 18 December 2025.

Dates and venues are subject to change.

Minutes from previous meetings