Discover key facts about the healthcare market in the UK and learn about our latest market research for our pharmaceutical, medical device, and healthcare sector clients.
Key facts about the UK health market:
Funding in the UK healthcare system
The UK has a universal public healthcare system. The majority of health needs, including hospital, physician, and mental health care, are funded through general taxation. A small proportion of the UK’s population carries voluntary supplemental insurance.
Health technology assessment in the UK
If NICE recommends the use of a pharmaceutical treatment, funding must be made in available within 3 months for patients to access treatment on the NHS throughout England and Wales. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) sets guidelines for clinically effective treatments and appraises new health technologies (both pharmaceutical and medical devices) for their efficacy and cost effectiveness. Similarly, medical devices that are recommended by NICE through an appraisal should be funded; however, they are not reimbursed until services are commissioned. Payers make their own decisions when commissioning services that lack NICE recommendations.
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) reviews all pharmaceuticals for use in NHS Scotland, while the Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) provides advice to NHS Scotland regarding medical devices.
UK payers’ primary focus:
Cost effectiveness is the key decision driver in the UK market.
To discuss your UK launch strategy with our experts or to enquire about market research services, get in touch using the form below.
Our work in the UK market
At Mtech Access, we have a network of over 100 Associates who currently hold roles across the UK NHS.
Our unique NHS relationships guide and validate everything we do in the UK.
Here are just a few examples of how we have supported clients launching in the UK market:
View Case StudyDelivering a White Paper to highlight national variation in care, and propose solutions for improving care across the NHS
View Case StudyConducting market research into the UK private healthcare market to inform market access and pricing strategy
View Case StudyUnderstanding the diagnostic market access landscape in the UK
View Case StudyUnderstanding changing perceptions of value in the NHS
View Case StudyExploring funding and reimbursement routes for digital health technologies across EU4, UK and US
View Case StudyResearching market access pathways, reimbursement requirements and implications of orphan drug designation for a rare disease product
View Case StudyGaining global payer insights to inform clinical trial design, price and market access strategy
View Case StudyReviewing HTA decisions in key markets across the globe
View Case StudyModelling pricing and market dynamics in a competitive therapeutic landscape across the EU4 and UK markets
More UK market insights and research
So, what is happening with specialised commissioning in the NHS?
Specialised commissioning continues to be an issue of significance and uncertainty for both the NHS and industry. What do the latest reports of regional pushback on the plans for devolution to Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) mean?
Integrated care in NHS Wales – what can England learn from its neighbour?
What does it take to run a truly patient-centric integrated health system? What does the Welsh journey with integration tell us about the future for England?
How the life sciences industry can bring meaningful change to the NHS
How can the life sciences industries and the healthcare sector work together to deliver real change? Robert Hull (Senior Consultant – NHS Insight & Interaction, Mtech Access) offers an overview of the key themes discussed at our NHS Transformation Symposium.
