Med Tech-related health technology assessments in Wales in August 2026

Health Technology Wales (HTW) is a national body working to improve the quality of care in Wales. It is funded by the Welsh Government and hosted within NHS Wales, but is independent of both. HTW covers medical devices, diagnostics, procedures, psychological therapies, models of care, and social care support, excluding pharmaceuticals.

HTW uses a staged process of assessment by developing three types of documents. The topic exploration report (TER) aimed to assess whether there is enough evidence to proceed with a full appraisal and whether the topic meets the appraisal selection criteria. Based on the TER conclusions, HTW's Assessment Group decides whether to progress this topic further. If yes, the following two documents can be developed: Evidence Appraisal Report (EAR) and Guidance (GUI). Recommendations are not mandatory; the status of HTW guidance is "adopt or justify," meaning that the local health board and other relevant bodies are expected to report on how they have considered the appraisal and guidance. If they have chosen not to adopt HTW guidance, they are asked to outline their rationale and justify their decision.

In August 2026, HTW published eight topic exploration reports. 

Based on the evidence identified, HTW's Assessment Group decided not to proceed with a full appraisal for the following topics:

• Multicomponent compression systems in a single bandage for lower limb ulcers and oedema;
• Pharmacogenomic tests to predict clozapine response in treatment-resistant schizophrenia;
• Clinical hyperthermia alongside radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy for recurrent breast cancer;
• Blood-based liquid biopsies that analyze circulating stem cells and associated molecular markers for early cancer detection and triage.

A decision on whether to progress with full appraisal is pending for the following topics:

• Intranasal photodisinfection for the prevention of surgical site infections;
• Finger-worn sensors to diagnose and monitor sleep-disordered breathing in children and adults;
• Pharyngeal electrical stimulation for swallowing difficulties resulting from neurogenic disorders in adults;
• Chemosaturation with percutaneous hepatic perfusion of melphalan for liver metastases from uveal melanoma.

No full appraisals were accomplished in August 2026.

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