🏗️ The NICE Evidence Standard Framework (For Health Technologies)

Summary

• This guide explains how innovators can use the NICE ESF to align their digital health solutions with the expectations of UK health and social care systems.
• While not mandatory, the framework provides a practical, shared language for developers, clinicians, and commissioners to assess value, safety, and impact.
• It also helps demystify what kind of evidence is needed at various stages of a product's lifecycle—from design to deployment.

What this carousel covers

• The scope of the NICE ESF and which types of DHTs it applies to
• How DHTs are classified into Tier A, B, or C based on their intended use and potential risk
• A breakdown of the 21 standards across five key domains: design, value, performance, economics, and deployment
• The introduction of a lighter early deployment standards set for earlier-stage DHTs

Key takeaways

• The higher the clinical utility of a DHT, the greater the level of evidence required (Tier C being the most rigorous)
• Developers should embed principles like user acceptability, bias mitigation, and professional oversight from the earliest stages
• Real-world evidence and economic evaluations become essential for high-risk or high-cost technologies
• The ESF is a valuable roadmap to prepare DHTs for NHS commissioning—even before formal regulation steps in

‍