UK’S NICE launches new initiative to streamline health technology approval and improve patient access

The Medicines and Medical Devices (MMD) Access Initiative, a newly established cross-government working group, aims to enhance coordination between regulatory, health technology assessment (HTA), and commercial processes within the four UK nations.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the UK’s HTA body for England, have announced a new UK-wide collaboration aimed at improving patient access to innovative health technologies. The Medicines and Medical Devices (MMD) Access Initiative seeks to accelerate access to cost-effective, innovative healthcare solutions by standardizing evaluation pathways and enhancing intelligence sharing across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Commenting on LinkedIn they stated:

"We're proud to introduce a UK-wide collaboration bringing together expertise from across all four UK nations that aims to improve patient access to innovative health technologies."

The pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors are advancing rapidly, with new mechanisms of action and breakthrough innovations, such as wearable health-monitoring devices and genomic testing, improving patient care. To keep pace, regulatory and HTA agencies are optimizing evaluation pathways and enhancing horizon scanning to ensure health systems are well-prepared for emerging treatments and technologies.

Strengthening UK-wide coordination

The 2024 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access, and Growth (VPAG) emphasized the need for stronger coordination between regulatory, HTA, and commercial processes to streamline market entry for new health technologies. In response, MMD Access Initiative was established as a UK-wide cross-government working group to enhance integration across these areas.

The MMD Access Initiative brings together health service bodies across the UK, with industry representatives in a non-decision-making role to support HTA alignment. It aims to standardize frameworks for introducing innovative health technologies, improve intelligence sharing, and ensure timely, equitable patient access.

Structure and operations of the MMD Access Initiative

The initiative operates under a steering committee that serves as a collaborative forum for improving patient access across all four nations. Two dedicated working groups focus separately on medicines and medical devices, with an emphasis on horizon scanning and information sharing to support coordinated decision-making.

The MMD Access Initiative is distinct from the Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP), which is designed to accelerate the time to patient care for transformative medicines and medicine–device combinations through a single integrated platform.

As the initiative develops, its activities and outcomes will be shared with key stakeholders to ensure transparency and ongoing engagement. Future partnerships may further enhance patient access and streamline healthcare processes.

By bringing together expertise from across the UK and engaging with industry trade associations, the initiative supports a more cohesive approach to introducing new health technologies. Effective system alignment remains essential for efficiency, and this initiative provides a structured framework to support that goal.

Collaborating members

The MMD Access Initiative includes representatives from key healthcare and regulatory bodies across the UK, including:

• All Wales Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre
• Department of Health Northern Ireland
• Department of Health and Social Care
• Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Scottish Health Technologies Group
• Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Scottish Medicines Consortium
• Health Research Authority
• Health Technology Wales
• Health and Social Care – NI
• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
• National Services Division Scotland
• NHS England
• NIHR Innovation Observatory
• Scottish Government
• UKRI Innovate UK
• UK Health Security Agency
• NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership
• Welsh Government

Additionally, industry trade associations such as the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), Association of British Healthtech Industries (ABHI), BioIndustry Association (BIA), British In Vitro Diagnostic Association, British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA), British Healthcare Trades Association, and the Ethical Medicines Industry Group (EMIG) are engaged in the initiative to support its objectives.