Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further recent decision by NICE to change the way medicines and other health technologies are evaluated for use in the NHS in England, what steps they will take (1) to develop a definition of innovation that differentiates transformative technologies, and (2) to consult on such a definition.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has embedded relevant considerations for innovative technologies throughout its health technology evaluations. NICE has not defined innovation in its updated methods and processes manual for health technology assessments. However, NICE will work with other partners from the Accelerated Access Collaborative to develop a definition of ‘disruptive technologies’. NICE keeps its methods and processes under review and will consult with stakeholders on any proposed changes.