From Pilot to Practice: Insights From the NICE Early Value Assessment for Digital Health Technologies

OBJECTIVES: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) launched the Early Value Assessment (EVA) process in June 2022 to integrate digital health advancements into the National Health Service (NHS). This study aims to evaluate the assessment process of digital health technologies (DHTs) by NICE through the EVA and to explore their potential early impact on patient care and clinical practice.

METHODS: A targeted literature review of all published NICE EVAs was conducted, and data was extracted from the identified appraisals across several domains: types of technology, therapeutic area, clinical and economic evidence, uncertainties identified and recommendations for future research.

RESULTS: Fifteen relevant appraisals were identified and of the 103 technologies, 57 were conditionally recommended (55%) for use in the NHS. The most frequent therapeutic area reported was mental health (6/15, 40%), followed by oncology (3/15, 20%). The other six appraisals (40%) spanned across a range including ear, nose and throat, cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, musculoskeletal and infectious conditions. Patient facing apps or platforms were the most common type of technology reviewed, included in eight appraisals (53%). The most common reasons discussed as contributing factors for non-recommendation include uncertainties around the evidence base and about a technology’s role in the care pathway.

CONCLUSIONS: By evaluating the value of technologies early in their lifecycle through EVA, NICE promotes the rapid adoption of solutions that are both effective and efficient within the NHS. This process not only provides guidance to companies on how best to align their innovations with NICE’s standards, therefore facilitating the faster implementation of technologies that could positively influence patient care, but it also highlights areas for future improvement and focus, ensuring the development of robust evidence for new digital technologies.