Value Based Procurement methodology advances further

Chris Whitehouse, a political consultant and expert on medical technology policy and regulation at Whitehouse Communications, an advisor to MedTech suppliers, chair of the Urology Trade Association, and governor of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre, encourages engagement with the development of a new Value Based Procurement methodology.

Government development of a new methodology for assessing value in the procurement of medical devices continues to gather momentum as officials from the Department of Health and Social Care [DHSC] MedTech Directorate engage with NHS procurers and suppliers.

Following the recent launch of an opportunity for NHS procurement professionals to sign up to a Value Based Procurement [VBP] Community of Practice and to give examples of the benefits of VBP experienced in their own NHS organisations, officials have now delivered a series of presentations to joint public sector and industry forums about the direction of travel in developing a new VBP assessment methodology.

The project is now advancing with an opportunity for suppliers of MedTech devices to feedback comment on drafts of the specific questions they might be asked to answer in procurements adopting the proposed new methodology in the near future.

The new methodology will be based on a series of 5 value domains and whole life cost. The domains are:

• Social Value: social and environmental benefits
• Efficiency: improving the patient pathway
• Patient and Staff: supporting patient experience and safety
• Supply Chain: resilience
• Purpose: meets the procurement specifications

Each domain will be assessed by answers to questions posed in the procurement and will receive a domain score to contribute to an overall score based 10% on social value, at least 50% on a flexible combination of efficiency, patient and staff, supply chain, and purpose; and a maximum of 40% based on the whole life cost. Whole life cost will take into account both purchase cost and post-warranty support costs where relevant.

MedTech trade associations are being asked to consult their members about the wording of questions and draft guidance on what model answers might look like, including the evidence upon which those answers are based, and to feedback comments to the VBP team at DHSC over the next few weeks.

Industry must actively engage with this process to shape the future VBP methodology within which they will be required to operate in supplying the NHS in England. Engaging constructively with officials, industry must ensure that the level of evidence required to support responses to the questions is realistic and proportionate for medical devices.

The Author used AI in preparing this article. Comments upon or questions about this article can be addressed to chris.whitehouse@whitehousecomms.com.

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