NICE announced on 9 February 2026 the launch of its new National HealthTech Access Programme (NHAP).
Our insight on the NHAP can be found below. If you require more detailed insight on NICE and how the launch will impact your organisation, please contact Brevia Health (+44 (0)20 7091 1655 or email contact@breviahealth.com).
What is the National HealthTech Access Programme?
The NHAP is set to expand NICE’s technology appraisals programme to incorporate health technologies. As a result, a small set of high-impact technologies will be reimbursed and made available across the entire health service, like medicines.[1]
This new programme improves transparency and provides a more consistent route for HealthTech into the health system.
The NHAP is a collaboration between NICE, the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, MHRA and the Office for Life Sciences.[2]
What will be included in the NHAP?
NICE has announced that the first two topics to go through the new programme include:[3]
- Capsule sponge tests for detecting oesophageal cancer.
- AI tools for identifying prostate and breast cancer.
Capsule sponge tests
Capsule sponge tests, sometimes called ‘pill on a string’, are small capsule-shaped devices that are used for detecting abnormal cells associated with Barrett’s oesophagus and early cancer.
The technology provides a far less invasive alternative to endoscopy, for the early detection of oesophageal cancer and the surveillance of Barrett’s oesophagus, where cells can grow abnormally and can occasionally become cancerous. As well as supporting faster pathways to diagnosis, it also helps free resources for urgent oesophageal cancer investigations.[4]
AI tools for prostate and breast cancer
AI tools for interpreting images of tissue samples have the potential to transform diagnostic pathways for suspected prostate and breast cancer, two of the NHS’s largest caseload areas.
This supports pathologists by reducing routine workload, improving consistency, and enabling faster prioritisation of high-risk cases.[5]
NHAP and the 10 Year Health Plan
The NHAP supports the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan aim to improve access to cutting-edge HealthTech in the NHS to patients across the country.[6]
What are stakeholders saying?
Professor Jonathan Benger, Chief Executive of NICE said:
“These reforms mean that clinically and cost-effective medical devices, diagnostics and digital tools will start to be reimbursed and made available consistently across the NHS. This will give patients faster access to proven technologies and ensure NHS resources are spent where they make the greatest difference.”[7]
NICE support from Brevia Health
If you require more detailed insight on the work of NICE, please contact Brevia Health (+44 (0)20 7091 1655 or email contact@breviahealth.com).
[1] NICE, ‘Faster, fairer access to HealthTech under new national programme’, 9 February 2026, Link
[2] NICE, ‘Faster, fairer access to HealthTech under new national programme’, 9 February 2026, Link
[3] NICE, ‘Faster, fairer access to HealthTech under new national programme’, 9 February 2026, Link
[4] NICE, ‘Faster, fairer access to HealthTech under new national programme’, 9 February 2026, Link
[5] NICE, ‘Faster, fairer access to HealthTech under new national programme’, 9 February 2026, Link
[6] NICE, ‘Faster, fairer access to HealthTech under new national programme’, 9 February 2026, Link
[7] NICE, ‘Faster, fairer access to HealthTech under new national programme’, 9 February 2026, Link
