Our recommendations on the use of highly specialised technologies are made by an independent advisory committee. This is called the highly specialised technologies evaluation committee (HSTEC).
Committee members
Members are appointed for a 3-year term, and are drawn from:
- the NHS
- patient and carer organisations
- academia
- pharmaceuticals and medical device industries.
Although the committee seeks the views of organisations representing health professionals, patients, carers, manufacturers and government, its advice is independent of any vested interests.
Consultees and commentators
Consultee organisations include:
- local and national groups representing patients and carers
- bodies representing health professionals
- manufacturer(s) or sponsor(s) of the technology in development
- the Department of Health
- specialised commissioning groups.
Consultees can submit evidence during the evaluation, comment on the evaluation documents and appeal against the committee's final recommendations. In addition, consultee organisations are asked to nominate patient experts, commissioning experts or clinical specialists.
Commentator organisations include:
- manufacturers of comparator technologies
- Welsh Government
- the relevant National Collaborating Centre (a group commissioned by NICE to develop clinical guidelines), if relevant
- research groups working in the area
- other groups, including:
- British National Formulary
- Scottish Medicines Consortium
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
- Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for Northern Ireland
- professional or patient organisations covering Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland only.
We invite commentators to take part in the evaluation process and comment on the various documents produced.
Learn more about developing NICE highly specialised technologies guidance.
More information
Next meeting dates
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, our highly specialised technologies evaluation committee meetings are currently being held virtually.
- Wednesday 10 May 2023
- Thursday 08 June 2023
- Thursday 13 July 2023
- Thursday 03 August 2023
- Thursday 14 September 2023
- Thursday 05 October 2023
- Wednesday 15 November 2023
- Thursday 07 December 2023.
Dates and venues are subject to change.
Minutes from previous meetings
2023
2022
2021
Download the minutes for 6 October 2021 (Word)
Download the minutes for 15 September 2021 (Word)
Download the minutes for 5 August 2021 (Word)
Download the minutes for 15 July 2021 (Word)
Download the minutes for 10 June 2021 (Word)
Download the minutes for 13 May 2021 (Word)
Download the minutes for 15 April 2021 (Word)
Download the minutes for 10 February 2021 (Word)
2020
Download the minutes for 11 November 2020 (Word)
Download the minutes for 8 October 2020 (Word)
2019
Download the minutes for 12 February 2019 (Word)
Download the minutes for 14 March 2019 (Word)
Download the minutes for 11 April 2019 (Word)
Download the minutes for 21 May 2019 (Word)
Download the minutes for 25 July 2019 (Word)
Download the minutes for 29 August 2019 (Word)
Download the minutes for 28 November 2019 (Word)
2018
Download the minutes for 23 August 2018 (PDF)
Download the minutes for 25 July 2018 (PDF)
Download the minutes for 28 June 2018 (PDF)
Download the minutes for 23 May 2018 (PDF)
Download the minutes for 25 April 2018 (PDF)