New NHS model needed for adoption of innovative medical devices

The system for introducing new medical technologies into the NHS remains complex, crowded, and difficult to manage, according to a new report by the Medical Technology Group (MTG).

The paper also calls for innovative treatments with medical devices to be given the same support as new pharmaceutical medicines.

Current NHS mechanisms to support the uptake and use of innovative technology are severely limited in scope and are focused on ‘picking winners’ rather than the broad system-wide adoption of new technology, the report states.

It points to the Accelerated Access Pathway, for instance, which supports fewer than 10 technologies each year; and the lack of a clear mechanism to support the widespread uptake of innovative products across the NHS.

And the absence of a broad, national commissioning policy means patients sometimes miss out on the benefits of established technology due to a regional variation in access.

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Source: BBH, 24 March 2021