A keynote session at the BHTA Joint Section Meeting on 18 June 2026, at the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire, explored the latest developments across the UK Government’s MedTech agenda.

The session was presented by Paul Griffiths, Head of Policy and Strategy for Medical Technology & Innovation at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Opening the session, Paul highlighted the arrival of new ministers, including James Murray, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and Preet Kaur Gill, Minister for Life Sciences and Innovation.

He said the key message from the new ministerial team was the continuation of existing direction and priorities.

Progress on reforms to Part IX of the Drug Tariff

Wave One of the new Part IX process is now underway, with applications having closed in March and assessments being carried out by independent advisory panels.

Paul noted that a review will take place following the first wave to assess how the process is working in practice and identify any unintended consequences before future waves are introduced.

He also highlighted the introduction of temporary listings for products that demonstrate strong potential but require additional real-world evidence before being considered for permanent inclusion. The provision allows products to be listed for up to two years while further evidence is generated.

Paul said several companies are already making use of the temporary listing route, which has been introduced to help innovative products reach patients sooner while supporting further evidence generation.

Supporting faster adoption of innovation

Members also received an update on the National HealthTech Access Programme, formerly known as the Rules-Based Pathway.

The programme aims to create a clearer route from regulatory approval through to evaluation, reimbursement, and NHS adoption. The first technologies have now entered the NICE Technology Appraisal process.

Paul said the programme is intended to make the NHS a more predictable customer for innovation, supporting both technology adoption and growth across the UK’s life sciences sector.

Value-based procurement moves forward

Following engagement with more than 300 SMEs and extensive work with NHS organisations, industry representatives, and other stakeholders, the government published guidance on value-based procurement for medical technology in June.

The approach has been tested through pilot projects at 13 NHS trusts, with an independent evaluation examining how the methodology performs in live procurement settings and what support organisations may need to implement it more widely.

Paul said the next phase will focus on training, implementation support, and adoption across NHS organisations.

Sustainability and growth initiatives

Paul provided updates on Design for Life, the programme supporting the transition towards a more circular approach to MedTech.

Work is continuing on priority adoption programmes, with sustainability considerations being incorporated into wider decision-making processes.

Alongside this, he outlined progress on Project Phoenix, which is developing a clean room in HMP Ranby to test the concept of manufacturing MedTech in prisons.

Building better information infrastructure

Another programme highlighted during the session was MedTech Compass, a DHSC-led platform designed to help NHS organisations compare products using trusted evidence sources.

The platform will bring together information from NICE guidance, pilot evaluations, procurement exercises, and other datasets to support purchasing decisions. The programme entered beta development in June.

Paul also noted that Compass has been identified as the delivery vehicle for the Innovator Passport programme, helping to support more consistent adoption of technologies across the NHS.

Regulatory developments

The session concluded with an update on several areas of regulatory reform.

Paul highlighted progress on pre-market regulation changes, which are moving through the final stages of development. He also discussed ongoing work around international recognition and reliance pathways, following consultation with industry and other stakeholders.

Paul also highlighted forthcoming recommendations relating to AI as a medical device.

Members also heard about ongoing discussions regarding industry payments disclosure. A series of stakeholder workshops has been taking place to explore different options and gather views from industry, patient groups, and NHS organisations before decisions are taken on next steps.

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.

What is 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.

When is the MedTech Compass expected to be introduced?

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.

What will the MedTech Compass mean for suppliers?

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.

How will the MedTech Compass be used?

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.