Insights

Rare Disease Day Background Colorful awareness ribbon with group of people with rare diseases

Global rare‑disease policy shifts: what are the implications for equitable access to orphan medicines?

1 March 2026

Rare diseases may affect only a small number of people, but together they impact an estimated 300–400 million people worldwide — and only around 5% have an approved treatment. As global attention grows, including the WHO’s upcoming 10-year Global Action Plan, it is important to understand how regulation, HTA, and pricing policies across the UK, EU, and US influence the development of orphan medicines and access for patients.

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NICE’s new cost-effectiveness threshold: Significance, consequences, and unanswered questions

25 February 2026

NICE’s cost-effectiveness threshold will rise in April 2026, for the first time in 20 years. This raises important questions to consider as we approach the change and in the years that follow.

Adrian Towse giving a talk at ISPOR 2026 after receiving his Lifetime Achievement Award

Reflections from Adrian Towse on decades of HEOR research and impact

11 November 2025

Adrian Towse, Emeritus Director and Visiting Senior Research Fellow at OHE looks back at his journey and impact in health economics research.

Turning around the NHS: Reflections on the 2025 OHE Annual Lecture

14 October 2025

In this year’s Annual Lecture, Prof Anita Charlesworth takes a closer look at the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, concluding that all is not lost for the NHS, but questions of coherence, capacity, and capability remain.

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OHE’s submission to a parliamentary inquiry on UK drug shortages

6 October 2025

The following is an extract from OHE’s written submission to parliament focused on diversifying suppliers and recognising the value of treatment alternatives to mitigate this issue.

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Environmental sustainability in the NHS 10 Year Health Plan: The need for green 

29 September 2025

This is the second in a series of blogs about how the proposals in the recently published 10 Year Plan measure up against some of the most pressing health concerns in the UK.

Around the World in HTAs: Saudi Arabia – Navigating the healthcare and HTA landscape

24 September 2025

Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system is undergoing major transformation under Vision 2030, reshaping regulation, funding and delivery models across the Kingdom. The introduction of a formal health technology assessment (HTA) framework and evolving reimbursement pathways are central to improving access to value-based healthcare.

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The true cost and burden of frontotemporal dementia: Early insights into a pressing challenge

22 September 2025

In recognition of Frontotemporal Dementia Awareness Week, OHE shares ongoing work quantifying the disease burden and cost-of-illness associated with FTD.

Prevention in the NHS 10 Year Health Plan: Promise, limits, and the path forward

17 September 2025

This is the first in a series of blogs about how the proposals in the newly published 10 Year Plan measure up against some of the most pressing health concerns in the UK.