The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which determines if the UK can afford to pay for certain medical treatments, will launch a new online tool in July to help developers of medical devices and diagnostics understand how to generate the evidence necessary to show their products are clinically and cost effective.

The Medtech Early Technical Assessment (META) tool, developed in partnership with NICE's Scientific Advice service and the Greater Manchester Academic Health Science Network, aims to help companies speed products to market more quickly by preparing them for talks with health technology assessment organizations and payers.

"We want to help healthcare systems get access to more products that meet such criteria and help companies develop these technologies and relevant evidence to demonstrate their value to patients and payers," said Leeza Osipenko, head of NICE Scientific Advice.

The tool will be launched on 3 July at the Royal Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London by NICE chief executive Sir Andrew Dillon. Further information about the launch event, including how to attend and how to become a META partner, is available here.

NICE