MedTech for All: Breaking Barriers to Equity in Healthcare Innovation

As MedTech continues to transform healthcare, there is an increasing need to explore how it can benefit everyone equitably, and who has a role to play at each stage of innovation.  

NIHR Innovation Observatory brought together leading voices and experts from across the health and life sciences sector at the BMA House in London to discuss designing, developing, regulating, and deploying MedTech with inclusivity, ensuring innovations serve diverse populations rather than reinforcing existing disparities. 

Ground Covered: Messages to Digest 

Over the dynamic discussion and parallel group assignments, substantial ground was covered during the three-hour meeting. The summary notes may be distilled under five broad take-homes.  

1. (In)equity in MedTech must be considered in the wider context of (in)equalities and system biases – from funding for innovation to policies about its adoption. A question was posed about who and at what points, holds power over equity and MedTech – who is around the table when key decisions about MedTech funding, design, testing, and deployment are made?
2. Advancing equity in MedTech requires greater diversity in the people and systems that are the foundation for innovation. A question was posed about what is being done to build more diverse participation in STEM across communities – to train the diversity of people needed to lead equitable innovation?
3. Friction is particularly noticeable at the interfaces. For example, when trying to match the existing NHS infrastructure with innovative technology, or when considering reimbursement and commissioning models in the context of the way the markers operate. A question was posed about how we can reduce the disparity between patient and population needs and the market offer?
4. Consider the economics, and how these may create challenges or opportunities for equity. A question was posed about how to make the economics of equity to work?
5. Looking at the wider universal view that places importance on embedding equity considerations in the product lifecycle and across research studies. Several questions were posed around implementing this, covering topics such as data, good quality patient involvement, funding, and ways to make more of new contexts and changing models of care to inform innovation.  

Key Takeaways: Moving Forward 

The discussions made it clear that achieving equity in MedTech requires sustained commitment and concrete action. There was consensus on the need for continuous dialogue, with concrete ideas for progress already under discussions. 

The event reinforced a shared vision: MedTech has the potential to be a force for good for all, but only if it is designed, regulated, and deployed with equity at its core. The path forward demands collaboration, accountability, and a willingness to challenge existing norms to build a healthcare future that truly serves everyone. 

Dr Andrew Mkwashi, MedTech Lead at the NIHR Innovation Observatory said: 

“This event highlighted the urgent need to prioritise equity in MedTech. We must move beyond conversation to meaningful action, ensuring innovation reaches all communities fairly. The road ahead requires stronger collaboration, policy shifts, and a commitment to designing technologies that truly address diverse healthcare needs.” 

Patience Kunonga, Equity Lead at the NIHR Innovation Observatory added: 

“Equitable MedTech requires rethinking whose needs drive innovation. Too often, technologies are designed for the ‘average’ patient, overlooking the diverse realities of those most in need. True equity means shifting the focus, engaging underserved communities early, prioritising real-world usability, and ensuring solutions are adaptable to different social and healthcare contexts.”

Read more about our work on equity here

Michael Crichton, Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering at Heriot-Watt University concluded:

“Friday was a brilliant day of enthusiasm and collaboration to tackle systemic challenges in MedTech. Inclusivity is critical for fair and healthy societies, and this workshop shaped ideas on how to embed it across sectors. Being in a room with people committed to making medical technologies work for everyone was an immense privilege, leaving me optimistic about the future and how we turn these discussions into action.” 

An AI-generated Podcast, using Google’s Notebook LM (Notebooklm.google) was shared as pre-event material. The Podcast used voice notes from five health and life-science leaders about their views on equity in MedTech, setting the scene ahead of the event. Our thanks to the contributors: Dr Andrew Mkwashi, Ms Patience Kunonga, Dr Michael Crichton, Prof Jane McDermott, and Prof Niina Kolehmainen together with Miss Noora Ryan (7yo). To listen to the podcast, please view below: