Our vision focusses on 3 central objectives:
right product
right price
right place
These concepts centre on delivering the highest quality of care for patients and interact with and balance against each other - often, as focus on one component increases, focus on the others can decrease. Striking the best possible balance between these objectives is difficult, but we will aim to reach an optimal point where all 3 elements are weighted appropriately so the UK medtech sector best supports the UK health and care system in delivering improved health outcomes for patients (see figure 1). Figure 1: the 3 core components of the medtech vision Figure 1 shows the 3 core components of the medtech vision presented as a Venn diagram. There are 3 circles:
right product, which must be safe for all, clinically effective, innovative and sustainable
right price, which must be value for money, outcomes-focussed, whole pathway cost and quality data
right place, which must include access, availability, adoptions and resilience
The area connecting these circles represents a place of optimal balance between the objectives. Right product We will ensure products are clinically safe and effective for all by developing best-in-class regulations and upholding safety standards. We will encourage innovative and sustainable product development to better meet patient needs, diagnosis and outcomes. The UK has a diverse population, and it is vitally important that every person has timely access to effective, safe, medical technology regardless of ethnicity, sex or any other attribute. We want to put clinical leadership at the forefront of medtech, making sure healthcare professionals and patients can make informed decisions on medtech products with clarity and confidence. We want to support innovation that meets the needs of the UK population, such as by addressing clinical priorities and increasing sustainability. Right price We will create an environment that supports the understanding and delivery of value for money and affordability across the whole patient pathway, using high-quality data to ensure that prices are reasonable for both the health system and sustainable for suppliers. To ensure the best value for public money, the value of medtech products should not be considered in isolation but across the whole patient pathway. Affordability, long-term value and above all patient outcomes must form part of this assessment, as well as an acknowledgement that ‘lowest price’ does not always translate to ‘best value’. Ensuring we have clear, reliable data to underpin our decisions will help us to achieve this. The importance of getting the right products at the right price will be even more important as we address the pressures on affordability presented by factors such as changing demographics and inflation. Right place We will ensure the UK is positioned internationally and domestically to increase access, diversity and resilience in the supply market, to get technology to the patients and healthcare professional who need them. Confidence in the availability of medtech products at the time they are needed is critical to the functioning of the health and care system. Access to the right products, delivery of them via a responsive and resilient supply chain and supporting their adoption into the UK health and care system ensures everyone has access to medical technology as and when they need it.