The UK's complex system of procuring medical technology for use in the National Health Service is being simplified. A new system will go live on May 8 under the Future Operating Model (FOM), an initiative that prioritizes outcomes-based rationales and allows for gain-sharing, while also targeting annual NHS savings. At this early stage, the device industry and health-care providers are both displaying a mix of optimism and skepticism.

UK diagnostics manufacturers face major challenges in adapting to the EU IVDR and to the possible changes that Brexit will bring in regulation, trading conditions, costs and access to talent. In addition, the industry will have to factor in a restructuring of pathology networks and future NHS procurement changes, all while transitioning to digital health-care concepts, says IVD industry association chief Doris-Ann Williams.

Navigating the UK medtech innovation landscape is a notoriously complicated exercise, so industry is hoping the recently released Accelerated Access Review will have positive outcomes as 2018 unfolds. Andrew Davies, market access director for the Association of British Healthcare Industries,  says a simplified system of market access for medtech would bring benefits across the board.