Procurement: how can the NHS do better?

Innovation is frequently cited as the solution to the NHS's most pressing challenges: constrained resources, rising demand, workforce pressures, and the imperative to reduce waste, all while improving patient care.^1,2 Yet when we speak about innovation in healthcare, the conversation typically centres on new devices, technologies, or treatments. What receives far less attention is innovation in how we procure.

This is important because procurement touches every aspect of healthcare. The choices made in MedTech procurement directly influence clinical outcomes, operational efficiency and financial sustainability. At the end of every procurement decision is a patient — someone whose quality and experience of care, and ultimately outcome, depend on these choices.

Historically, procurement practices centred on technical specifications and price have stifled innovation and limited patient access to high-quality care.³ To address this, Value-Based Procurement (VBP), a key component of the NHS 10-Year Health Plan, seeks to drive innovation, improve productivity and ensure long-term financial sustainability.⁴ Rather than focusing on lowest price, VBP evaluates a solution's overall value across the entire patient pathway.⁵