NICE-wide Topic Prioritisation: the manual (PMG46) 2026 Update Consultation

Update information 

21st April 2026: This manual has been updated to include further details on how NICE will prioritise topics to reflect the latest system priorities and new national policies. These updates include: 

• What NICE will consider as priority areas for NICE guidance and portfolio maintenance (section 5) and be clear about which topics are outside of NICE’s remit (section 3.12, section 6.1.1 and 6.2). These changes explicitly signal NICE’s role in supporting key policy initiatives such as the NHS Modern Service Frameworks and Single National Formulary.    

• The introduction of flexibility in routing decisions to support the Whole Life Cycle Approach to guidance (for example section 2.4 and 3.7).  For example, updates can be routed to any guidance producing programmes and combinations of more than one type of guidance. 

• The consideration factors for proposing HealthTech topics using NICE technology appraisal methods and process (the National HealthTech Access Programme) (Annex A). And the selection proposals are made by the NICE prioritisation board (section 4). 

• When the NICE prioritisation board will further prioritise the re-evaluation of early-use HealthTech guidance (section 6.2). 

• The merging of the two-stage prioritisation framework into a single stage prioritisation framework while retaining key criteria from both stages (section 8.2).  This will streamline the topic prioritisation process.  

We have asked some questions about the consultation that we would like you to answer. You will be able to see the questions when you go into the online consultation document.

 The consultation closes at 5pm on 19th May 2026.  

How to comment  

1. Register your organisation or respond as an individual 

If you’re responding for an organisation, your organisation needs to be registered as a stakeholder.    

We can accept responses from individuals. Wherever possible we encourage you to submit your responses through a registered stakeholder organisation.   

If you wish to respond on this consultation as an individual, please create and activate a NICE Account first at https://accounts.nice.org.uk/register     

You can then sign into the consultation area via the link to the consultation document (online version) link below.  

2. Read the consultation documents  

Documents to respond to:   

• NICE-wide Topic Prioritisation - the manual (PMG46) 2026 Update Consultation

Supporting documents:   

• PB Manual Update Equality and health inequalities assessment (downloadable version)
• Appendix A - Figure 1 NICE proposals to NHAP guidance

3. Add your responses

• You will need to submit your responses via the questions within the online consultation document. Please see this video on how to comment for guidance on how to use online commenting.   

• You must declare any links with, or funding from, the tobacco industry   

If you share similar views with another organisation, please send a joint response.   

Deadline: Tuesday 19th May 2026 at 17:00   

Should you have any queries regarding the consultation please email ClinicalDirectorateOffice@nice.org.uk and we will aim to respond to your email within 5 working days.