Health Tech Alliance issues call to reform NHS procurement

The Health Tech Alliance, an informal coalition of health technology companies and stakeholders from across the NHS and wider health system, has released a report detailing the need for reform in NHS procurement. 

The report, ‘Unlocking innovation: recommendations for transforming NHS health tech procurement‘, published on 17 July 2025, sets out a roadmap for creating a “more streamlined, transparent, and innovation-friendly procurement system” to deliver better patient outcomes and long-term value for the NHS. 

It follows the publication of the NHS 10 year health plan, on 3 July 2025, which introduces standardised value-based procurement guidance for devices and digital products starting from early 2026.

Value-based procurement is an approach that delivers a reduction in the whole life costs of healthcare where value can be created from financial, efficiency, patient, and environmental benefits.

Dame Barbara Hakin, chair of the Health Tech Alliance and former deputy chief executive of NHS England, said: “Last week’s commitment to better value-based procurement practices in the 10 year plan is a vital step forward, reinforcing the need for a smarter, more strategic approach to equipping the NHS.

“Our report brings together the voices of clinicians, industry, and NHS leaders to provide a clear and practical roadmap for procurement reform – one that will prioritise high-impact technologies, deliver more value, and ultimately ensure better care for patients.

“By supporting the adoption of evidence-based innovation and fostering closer collaboration between policymakers, the NHS and the health tech sector, we have a unique opportunity to drive real, tangible progress for patients and the UK health tech sector alike.”

The report highlights how complex bureaucracy and fragmented pathways are slowing the adoption of health technology that could improve patient care and proposes a roadmap to improve procurement systems.

Key recommendations from the report include:

• Streamlining central procurement processes and reducing administrative burden for all stakeholders,
• prioritising value-based procurement that considers long-term outcomes, not just short-term costs,
• creating a central portal and knowledge hub to support SMEs and innovators,
• enhancing early engagement and knowledge sharing across NHS organisations,
• ring-fencing innovation budgets at trust and integrated care system (ICS) level,
• improving coordination and consistency across ICSs to reduce fragmentation and spread best practice; and 
• investing in education and training to support a culture of innovation and value-based decision making in NHS procurement teams.

The report is the result of a series of workshops held between July 2024 and February 2025, which brought together representatives from the health tech industry, central health bodies and local procurement leads to identify the challenges within NHS health tech procurement and propose ways to make processes more efficient and effective.

Baroness Gillian Merron, health minister, announced at the Health Tech Alliance’s Parliament and HealthTech Conference, which took place on 4 February 2025 in London, that guidance to simplify the procurement of health technology is being tested by NHS trusts and is expected to launch in 2025.