A new national health tech access programme has launched, expanding NICE’s tech appraisals programme to make selected technologies, identified for their potentially high impact, eligible for reimbursement and roll-out across the whole health service.
The programme, a collaboration between NICE, DHSC, NHSE, MHRA, and the Office for Life Sciences, will first focus on early diagnosis for cancer in the form of capsule sponge tests for oesophageal cancer and AI tools for identifying prostate and breast cancer. These tools include algorithms capable of analysing images and highlighting areas of suspicion to support pathologists, with hopes of reducing workload and allowing for higher risk cases to be prioritised.
According to NICE, the introduction of this technology offers the potential to increase accuracy, standardisation, and reporting speed, freeing up pathologist time for more complex cases, reducing diagnostic bottlenecks, and helping to reduce inequalities around diagnosis.
Two further areas are also being considered for inclusion: tech to improve detection of endometrial cancer in women with unexplained vaginal bleeding, and AI to analyse chest X-rays for suspected lung cancer in primary care referrals.
“When NICE was founded 26 years ago, it set out to end the postcode lottery in access to medicines,” Jonathan Benger, NICE chief executive, said. “We’re now extending that same clarity and fairness to health tech. These reforms mean that clinically and cost-effective medical devices, diagnostics and digital tools will start to be reimbursed and made available consistently across the NHS. This will give patients faster access to proven technologies and ensure NHS resources are spent where they make the greatest difference.”
Wider trend: Driving health tech innovation
The UK Government has published its National Cancer Plan for England, backed by billions of pounds worth of investments in areas such as digital diagnostics, and informed by almost 12,000 responses to an earlier call for evidence from individuals and organisations. Where it reports previous plans have failed to disrupt “outdated” care models, the government hopes this time to draw on the 10-Year Plan’s three shifts to redesign cancer pathways and modernise approaches to cancer care. Advances in data, genomics, and predictive analytics are in focus to drive pre-emptive care, it continues, while digital therapeutics and the NHS App will give patients choice and control, and partnership will promote innovation and access to clinical trials. A new system of “earned autonomy” and the creation of new incentives for innovation and modernisation are similarly hoped to support rapid transformation.
NHS England has shared the latest updates on its NHS App Roadmap, including recently completed pilots, current areas of focus, and plans for future development. The roadmap notes a list of NHS App integrated live partners and services, including providers such as Accurx and Anima Health for online consultations, Patients Know Best for personal health records, and DrDoctor and Health Call for secondary care. Recently completed projects around integrated services have included a trial of AI-enabled triage in a GP surgery, which NHS England is now looking to expand to a larger area, and the integration of a new service to check and book RSV vaccinations. A new vaccinations hub bringing together existing and new digital vaccination services is to be developed, and more online consultation services are to be introduced to increase the number of users who can access medical advice in this way.
The HTN Now Awards for 2025/26 saw some amazing entries from every corner of the health tech arena, each testament to the incredible hard work taking place across health and care, and showcasing a huge range of different ways that technology is driving transformation, enhancing care for patients, and supporting clinicians in their daily roles. Our Meet the Winners article and award ceremony was the perfect opportunity to celebrate!
