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The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is developing a new initiative known as the MedTech Compass, designed to support more effective and consistent procurement decisions across the NHS. While still in development, the MedTech Compass represents a move towards a more streamlined, value-focused approach to how medical technologies are assessed and adopted.
Here’s what BHTA members need to know about the MedTech Compass.
At its core, the MedTech Compass is intended to enable smarter procurement decisions by allowing NHS organisations to compare products side by side based on value rather than price alone. It is designed so that a single set of supplier data can be submitted once and reused across multiple procurement processes.
This approach aims to support more consistent and transparent decision-making, reduce duplication across NHS procurement, and improve efficiency for both suppliers and buyers. The MedTech Compass has been described as a comparison-style tool, intended to support procurement teams and clinicians in making more informed choices.
The MedTech Compass is currently progressing through its development phases. The programme began with a discovery phase to assess user needs and market challenges. This has been followed by the alpha phase (November 2025 to March 2026), where concepts are being tested through a prototype. A beta phase is expected during the 2026/27 financial year to build and test the full system, followed by a live service rollout across the NHS in 2027/28.
The alpha phase has recently passed a Government Digital Service assessment with a Green rating. DHSC is expected to progress to procurement for the beta phase through an Invitation to Tender, with the beta likely to begin in summer 2026 and run for approximately 12 months.
For suppliers, the MedTech Compass has the potential to reduce administrative burden and simplify engagement with NHS procurement.
By enabling a “submit once, use many times” approach to data, it should reduce the need to repeatedly provide the same information across different procurement exercises, improve clarity around requirements, and support more predictable and consistent evaluation criteria.
At the same time, suppliers will need to ensure that their product data is comprehensive, accurate, and aligned with the value-based metrics the MedTech Compass is expected to prioritise.
The MedTech Compass is intended to support NHS procurement teams and clinicians by providing a structured way to assess and compare technologies.
Rather than focusing solely on price, the system is expected to incorporate a broader definition of value, including factors such as clinical outcomes, system efficiency, and wider benefits to the healthcare system.
By standardising how information is presented and assessed, the MedTech Compass aims to reduce variation across organisations and support faster, more consistent decision-making.
For additional context on wider medtech policy developments, members can read our previous article on the MedTech Strategy and DHSC initiatives.
Written by the BHTA’s Bill Lee, Head of Policy and Compliance, and Sarah Sarsby, Communications Manager. The authors used AI to help prepare this article.
The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) has published its BHTA Manifesto Policy Update 2026, building on the 2023–24 Manifesto to reflect both sector progress and a rapidly evolving health and social care landscape.
First launched in Parliament, the original Manifesto set out five key areas requiring government attention, centred on stronger collaboration between industry, policymakers and healthcare professionals. Since then, BHTA has seen its “Five Rs” begin to translate into action across government and key stakeholders including DBT, DHSC, MHRA, NHS, NHSE and NICE.
The BHTA Manifesto Policy Update 2026 sharpens this momentum into delivery, setting out five clear priority areas:
Together, these priorities form a practical roadmap for how industry and the NHS can work in partnership to deliver better outcomes, faster innovation, and a more sustainable system.
The BHTA Manifesto Policy Update 2026 provides clarity for BHTA members navigating an increasingly complex policy environment, highlighting where industry can lead, from enabling community-based care to supporting innovation uptake and responding to regulatory change. At the same time, it reinforces to government and the NHS the value of working in partnership with a trusted, ethical healthtech sector to improve outcomes and system efficiency.
To explore the implications of the BHTA Manifesto Policy Update 2026 through a government affairs lens, the BHTA spoke to Bob Russell, Market Access and Government Affairs Director, UK at Hollister, and a member of the BHTA Board.
When asked which of the five key policy areas in the BHTA Manifesto Policy Update 2026 is most important, Bob highlighted partnership and prevention:
“In particular Freeing NHS Capacity through Partnership and Prevention – this recognises the vital role that we, and indeed all BHTA members, can play in supporting the NHS 10 Year Plan and working in true partnership to give better user outcomes”
He emphasised that, if progress could only be made in one area of the five areas of the manifesto, this would be the most impactful for the sector as a whole:
“I think that it as above – this to me is fundamental to achieve. For many years, the concept of partnerships has been talked about but not necessarily implemented to its fullest extent. I believe we are now in an environment where those partnerships will become increasingly important and meaningful as BHTA members help the NHS meet its 10 Year Plan.”
Looking ahead, Bob also pointed to the importance of staying ahead of regulatory developments:
“I think navigating the evolving regulatory environment successfully will be key. Recently announced legislative changes and factor such as ongoing MHRA consultations mean that BHTA members will need to keep very informed as to any potential impacts.”
He concluded by recognising the strength of the updated manifesto and its role in shaping future dialogue:
“The BHTA Manifesto Policy Update 2026 is a very comprehensive document, and I believe focuses on the key areas that are important to members. I am pleased to see the impact of the original 2023-24 Manifesto themes and the dialogue it has opened with key stakeholders. This update advances those themes in a significant fashion through setting clear priorities and actions.”
The BHTA Manifesto Policy Update 2026 sets out a clear roadmap for how industry, government and the NHS can work together to deliver better outcomes, accelerate innovation and build a more sustainable health system.
Read the full BHTA Manifesto Policy Update 2026 to explore the priorities and actions in detail and understand how the sector can help shape the future of UK healthtech.