What is the ‘proportionate approach’?
The proportionate approach to technology appraisals (PATT) aims to apply light-touch, faster approaches to simpler, low-risk treatments, allowing the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to produce rapid guidance for some topics, free up their capacity for complex areas that need tailored support, and ultimately deliver on their commitment to appraise all new medicines and indications.
On the 31st October 2023, NICE released the first modular update to the health technology evaluations manual, including updates to methods and processes to reflect NICE’s proportionate approach to technology appraisals. Costello Medical have now supported the development of over 10 appraisals under the proportionate approach and participated in the public consultation on the interim methods and process update in summer 2023.
We have reflected on our experience developing appraisals under these new methods and processes, their impact so far and the associated challenges and opportunities we have encountered, focusing on those topics that have been formally incorporated into the modular update to the health technology evaluations manual. We have also outlined some recommendations for manufacturers. A summary of our reflections is presented below.
