Blueteq Brief
Regional HCD Pages
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All Briefs
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Blueteq Brief - England
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Blueteq Brief - Wales
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Blueteq Brief - Scotland
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Blueteq Brief - Jersey
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Blueteq Brief - Guernsey
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Blueteq Brief - Northern Ireland
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Blueteq Brief - Republic of Ireland
RTÉ Investigates — Opioid prescribing under public drug schemes
An RTÉ Investigates analysis published on 28 September 2026 found that opioid prescribing under Ireland’s General Medical Services (GMS) scheme rose approximately 12% per eligible person between 2018 and 2025, equivalent to an increase from just over 15,400 to more than 17,200 Defined Daily Doses (DDDs) per 1,000 eligible people.1 The State spent €316 million […]
AWMSG Annual Report 2025–26
The All Wales Medicines Strategy Group published its Annual Report for 2025–26 on 7 September 2026.1 The report records that 76 medicines were subject to AWMSG appraisal in the year. NHS Wales follows NICE technology appraisals automatically, with a 60-day funding obligation rather than the 90-day standard applying in England. Blueteq comment: AWTTC (the All […]
NICE Technology Appraisals
NICE published final draft guidance on 3 September 2026 recommending mirdametinib (Ezmekly®) for the treatment of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)-associated plexiform neurofibromas in children and young people aged 2–17 years who require systemic therapy.1 Mirdametinib is a MEK inhibitor indicated where tumours are not amenable to surgery. The eligible population in England is approximately 200 […]
NICE Technology Appraisals — August 2026
On 6 August 2026, NICE recommended acalabrutinib (Calquence®, AstraZeneca) in two combination regimens for first-line treatment of blood cancers. Acalabrutinib plus bendamustine and rituximab was recommended for adults with untreated mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) not eligible for autologous stem cell transplant, with approximately 350 patients expected to benefit. Acalabrutinib plus venetoclax (without obinutuzumab) was recommended […]
UK–US Trade Agreement and July Developments
UK–US Trade Agreement and July Developments On 2 July 2026, the Department of Health announced a series of fast-track drug access pilots from September 2026. 1 These pilots add to the cost pressures brought about by the NICE cost-effectiveness threshold increase to £25,000–£35,000 per QALY which took effect in April 2026, and the commitment under the […]
AWMSG Annual Report 2025–26
The All Wales Medicines Strategy Group published its Annual Report for 2025–26 on 7 September 2026.1 The report records that 76 medicines were subject to AWMSG appraisal in the year. NHS Wales follows NICE technology appraisals automatically, with a 60-day funding obligation rather than the 90-day standard applying in England. Blueteq comment: AWTTC (the All […]
UK–US Arrangement — Relevance to Wales
The NICE threshold increase from April 2026 applies to NHS Wales, which follows NICE technology appraisals automatically. Nine additional medicines approved under the new threshold since April will require Blueteq forms to be created and activated for the Welsh deployment. The fast-track pilots announced by DHSC on 2 July are England-specific; AWMSG continues to assess […]
NHS Structural Policy — Health Bill
Abolishing NHS England. The Health Bill was introduced to the House of Commons on 14 May 2026. It proposes to abolish NHS England and transfer the bulk of its functions to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and to Integrated Care Boards.3 ICBs will become strategic commissioners of almost all services, including […]
SMC Decisions — 7 September 2026
The Scottish Medicines Consortium published advice on eight medicines on 7 September 2026. All eight were accepted:1 Eight high-cost specialist medicines accepted in a single month is an unusually high volume for the SMC. Blueteq comment: All eight medicines accepted in September would typically require prior-approval forms in a digital HCD governance system. Atidarsagene autotemcel […]
SMC Decisions — 10 August 2026
The Scottish Medicines Consortium published advice on seven medicines on 10 August 2026. All seven were accepted: Blueteq comment:. Almost all would typically sit on Blueteq prior-approval forms in England, several under the Cancer Drugs Fund. The breadth of disease areas in a single month’s SMC decisions illustrates the scale of the managed medicines governance challenge without a digital prior-approval system.
SMC Decisions — 13 July 2026
SMC Decisions — 13 July 2026 The Scottish Medicines Consortium published advice on six medicines on 13 July 2026. Five, which appear to be high cost drugs, were accepted. (Fezolinetant list price in the UK has not been confirmed publicly, but comparable products in the US cost approximately $10,000–15,000 per year. It is accepted within […]
Prescribed List Update — New Medicines from 1 September 2026
Social Security Minister Elaine Millar approved changes to Jersey’s Prescribed List with effect from 1 September 2026, following recommendations from the Pharmaceutical Benefit Advisory Committee. The Jersey Evening Post reported the changes carry a combined annual cost of £105,000 to the Health Insurance Fund. New additions include: fezolinetant (moderate to severe menopausal vasomotor symptoms); isotretinoin (severe acne); […]
UK–US Arrangement – Jersey & Guernsey
The UK–US Trade Agreement and the NICE threshold changes do not apply in Jersey or Guernsey, which are not part of the NHS and operate their own prescribing frameworks. While the arrangement does not bind either island, both Jersey and Guernsey procure most medicines through NHS supply chains or NHS framework agreements, meaning any increase […]
CHANNEL ISLANDS OPPORTUNITY — Jersey Health and Community Services
Governance that prevents recurrence: every high-cost prescription requires documented eligibility confirmation before treatment.
UK–US Arrangement – Jersey & Guernsey
The UK–US Trade Agreement and the NICE threshold changes do not apply in Jersey or Guernsey, which are not part of the NHS and operate their own prescribing frameworks. While the arrangement does not bind either island, both Jersey and Guernsey procure most medicines through NHS supply chains or NHS framework agreements, meaning any increase […]
Northern Ireland – August Blueteq Brief
New Health Minister Appointed Mr Robbie Butler was appointed Minister of Health for Northern Ireland on 20 August 2026, replacing his predecessor in the role. The Department of Health’s existing policy commitments, including the 2025 Medicines Access Review recommendations, remain in place pending any new ministerial direction. 1 Medicines Access Review — Implementation No announcement of […]
UK–US Arrangement — Relevance to Northern Ireland
The VPAG rebate is negotiated on behalf of all four UK nations. The reduction of the VPAG rebate from 22.9% to 14.5% therefore applies to NI as does the commitment to increase spending on innovative medicines from 0.3% to 0.6% of GDP. Northern Ireland endorses NICE technology appraisals through a separate DoH NI process. The […]
DoH NI MEDICINES ACCESS REVIEW — RECOMMENDATION 2
The DoH NI Medicines Access Review (2025) specifically names the Blueteq HCD system as the recommended replacement for cost-per-case commissioning.
RTÉ Investigates — Opioid prescribing under public drug schemes
An RTÉ Investigates analysis published on 28 September 2026 found that opioid prescribing under Ireland’s General Medical Services (GMS) scheme rose approximately 12% per eligible person between 2018 and 2025, equivalent to an increase from just over 15,400 to more than 17,200 Defined Daily Doses (DDDs) per 1,000 eligible people.1 The State spent €316 million […]
HSE Approves Skyclarys (Omaveloxolone) for Friedreich’s Ataxia
On 25 August 2026 the HSE Senior Management Team approved the reimbursement of omaveloxolone (Skyclarys®, Biogen) for patients with Friedreich’s Ataxia, a rare progressive neurological condition. The decision followed a substantial reduction in the asking price by Biogen, confirmed by HSE Chief Clinical Officer Dr Colm Henry on RTÉ. The final price is commercially sensitive […]
NCPE — First National HTA Using EU Joint Clinical Assessment Data
The NCPE completed a rapid review of onasemnogene abeparvovec intrathecal (Itvisma®), Novartis’s intrathecal gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), making this the first national HTA assessment completed for a medicine undergoing an EU Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA) under the EU HTA Regulation. The JCA report was endorsed by the Member State Coordination Group on […]
NCPE Director Questions Value of Early Access Proposals
In a separate RTÉ interview broadcast 21 June 2026, NCPE Director Professor Michael Barry questioned proposals for earlier access to new medicines ahead of full reimbursement assessment. He noted that for several rare disease drugs assessed this year, none had demonstrated an overall survival benefit, and argued that early access without a negotiated price reduction […]
Minister Signs Off End-to-End Review of Drug Approval System
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill announced on RTÉ’s Prime Time, broadcast 11 June 2026, that she has signed off the tender for an end-to-end review of Ireland’s system for approving access to and funding for new drugs and medical treatments. The Minister said she approved the tender details the previous week and that the […]
617-DAY ACCESS GAP — BLUETEQ CLOSES THE FINAL PHASE
New market opportunity for HSE: a single national platform for all Managed Access Protocols.
EU HTA Milestone — First Joint Clinical Assessment
The NCPE published on 4 May 2026 that the HTA Coordination Group approved the first-ever Joint Clinical Assessment report under the EU HTA Regulation. The NCPE Ireland acted as lead assessor, working with IQWiG Germany as co-assessor. The assessment covered tovorafenib (Ojemda®), an anticancer medicine for paediatric low-grade glioma. The report has been forwarded to […]
New Framework Agreement — FASPM 2026–2029
A new pricing and reimbursement Framework Agreement (FASPM) between the HSE and the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) came into effect in 2026. Key provisions include a commitment to a 180-day new medicines review, a new declining rebate structure (beginning at 9% for medicines added in 2026), new biosimilar rules, and a requirement for suppliers […]
