Chris Whitehouse, a political consultant and expert on medical technology policy and regulation at Whitehouse Communications, and advisor to MedTech highlights the short deadline for submission of evidence to a parliamentary committee looking into barriers to MedTech innovation and adoption.
The House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee is seeking further evidence on the competitiveness of the UK’s life sciences sector.
Following a series of decisions by major pharmaceutical companies to pause or cancel investments in the UK, the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee (SITC) held an evidence session to consider the wider investment environment for the UK’s life sciences sector, including MedTech.
The SITC’s evidence session explored the decision by pharmaceutical company Merck (known as MSD in Europe) to halt its planned 1 billion GBP UK expansion, and the competitiveness of UK life sciences overall.
The committee heard from pharmaceutical industry representatives, including from MSD, followed by government ministers and officials, including the Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, Lord (Patrick) Vallance.
The SITC is now calling for further written evidence on the topic, including on the impact of NHS pricing, the NICE assessment for medicines entering the NHS, and the potential impact of shifts in US policy. The full terms of reference for this call for evidence are:
How far the UK’s life sciences sector is internationally competitive.
What steps, if any, the UK government should take to increase the competitiveness of the life sciences sector.
- How effective the Life Sciences Sector Plan is.
- The biggest barriers to pharmaceutical, biotech, and medtech companies increasing investment in the UK.
- How recent shifts in US policy – including potential tariffs and most-favoured-nation pricing – impact this sector in the UK.
- How UK consumer pricing and uptake measures impact the life sciences sector’s attractiveness for innovation.
- How effective the NICE quality-adjusted life years (QALY) assessment is, and how it could be improved.
- How the UK compares to other European countries for pricing and uptake.
- What steps the NHS could take to improve implementation of innovations.
- How MHRA and NICE processes account for personalised medicines, prevention, and medtech.
The Committee has called urgently for evidence by 11.59pm on Monday 13th October. The MedTech sector should seize this opportunity to make its case for proportionate regulation and for putting the patient experience and outcomes at the heart of the process of assessing innovative products and promoting their adoption by a sometimes resistant NHS.
The Author used AI in preparing this article, comments upon, or questions about which can be addressed to chris.whitehouse@whitehousecomms.com.
