National Specialist Medicines Service (NSMS) 2026-29

NHS England is commissioning the 2026-2029 National Specialist Medicines Service (NSMS) contract. The contract holders will support in the implementation of national policies and priorities in medicines use and safety by developing cost effective standardised tools and processes that can be adopted/integrated locally.

It will provide expert clinical quality assurance in medicines technical services and supports the NHS to get best value optimisation from the medicines budgets. In addition, it will provide clinical support for frontline service delivery in relation to medicines and to enable strategic commissioning of medicines related services.

The NSMS will provide essential information on clinical and cost effectiveness use of medicines and their supply at local and national level to ensure patient access to essential treatment to a range of stakeholders and citizens.

The premise of the contract is that these activities can avoid duplication at local level giving local clinicians more time for their patients and that opportunities to improve quality and value are taken up comprehensively.