New access tool launched as part of SMC’s joint work on streamlining patient access to innovative medicines

A new UK-wide health technology assessment access forum has been developed by partners including the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) as part of the Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP).

ILAP aims to accelerate the time to market, facilitating patient access to medicines. These medicines include new chemical entities, biological medicines, new indications and repurposed medicines. SMC is a permanent partner in ILAP, alongside the All Wales Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

The new tool is designed to help companies streamline their patient access journey and is based on NICE's Office for Market Access safe harbour engagement meetings. Collaboration with the ILAP partners enables the forum to provide joined-up feedback from system stakeholders across the UK.  

The tool aims to help developers understand:

• Where the new medicine may potentially fit in the care pathway.
• The service delivery implications of introducing the new medicine into the NHS.
• Any high level health technology assessment challenges.
• How processes will apply in practice.
• Commercial options and suitability of approaches to support the new medicines value proposition and minimise the financial burden on the NHS.

You can find out more about the ILAP on the GOV.UK website.