A new report reveals mixed progress in implementing crucial guidance that determines which treatments and medical devices become available on the NHS, with pharmaceutical industry leaders calling for clearer processes to ensure patients can access effective therapies more quickly.
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has published its review of how the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's (NICE) Health Technology Evaluation Manual is working in practice. Released in October 2025, the report 'Reviewing implementation in practice of the NICE Health Technology Evaluation Manual - CONNIE October 2025' examines progress since the guidance was introduced.
NICE's Health Technology Evaluation Manual serves as the blueprint for assessing new pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and diagnostic tools before they're approved for NHS use. This evaluation process is essential for ensuring treatments are not only clinically effective and safe, but also represent good value for taxpayers' money.
Whilst the ABPI report acknowledges that meaningful progress has been made, it identifies key areas needing attention. The review highlights concerns about unclear roles and responsibilities amongst different organisations involved in the evaluation process, as well as gaps in robust safety and effectiveness data for healthcare technologies.
Importantly for patients, the report emphasises that effective implementation of this manual directly impacts access to potentially life-changing treatments. The ABPI is urging the Government and NHS leaders to tackle the identified challenges to ensure the evaluation system works as efficiently as possible, ultimately benefiting patients who need access to proven, safe healthcare innovations.