eHealth

In late October 2023, the Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment (OSTEBA) is working on several HTAs, including the evaluations in the cardiovascular, diagnostic imaging, e-health, ENT, ICU/OR, nephrology and urology, IVD, neurovascular, obstetrics and gynecology, surgical procedures, and some other fields.

The updated German Uniform Evaluation Standard (EBM) catalog came into force on October 1, 2023. The EBM catalog (Einheitlicher Bewertungsmaßstab) regulates the reimbursement of services in the public outpatient sector in Germany and is updated once a quarter (four times a year). Among other changes, a new code for “Mawendo” and “Oviva Direkt für Adipositas” health apps were introduced in the catalog.

In October 2023, the Centre for Assessment of Medical Technology in Örebro is working on several HTAs, including evaluations in e-health, ICU/OR, men’s health, orthopedic fields, and other fields.

In September 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published three new Interventional Procedure Guidance (removal, preservation, and reimplantation of ovarian tissue for restoring fertility, transurethral water-jet ablation for lower urinary tract symptoms, cryotherapy for chronic rhinitis), and three Health Technology Evaluations using early value assessment (AI-derived software to analyze chest X-rays for suspected lung cancer, AI technologies to aid contouring for radiotherapy planning, KardiaMobile 6L for adults having antipsychotic medication). Also, two new clinical guidelines were published, and three were updated.

In September 2023, the following method assessments were initiated as a part of a framework for the managed introduction of innovations "New Methods" for cardiovascular, e-health, endocrine, gastrointestinal, IVD, men’s health, neurology and neurosurgery, neuromodulation, robotic surgery, and some other fields.

In September 2023, several ongoing mini-HTA assessments for e-health, gastrointestinal, IVD, neurology and neurosurgery, peripheral vascular, pulmonary and airways, and some other fields are evaluated as a part of a framework for the managed introduction of innovations "New Methods" in Norway.

Between late May and early September 2023, two more health apps were introduced in the Directory of digital health applications (DiGAs) at the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and thus became reimbursable. These apps can be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists and will be reimbursed by health insurers. In total, 49 health apps are currently available in the DiGA Directory, and six health apps were delisted from the Directory.

In September 2023, the Galician Agency for Health Technology Assessment (AVALIA-T) is working on several HTAs, including the evaluations in the cardiovascular, e-health, endoscopy, extracorporeal treatment, ICU/OR, nephrology and urology, IVD, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, peripheral vascular, pulmonary and airways, surgical procedures, and some other fields.

In August 2023, Danish Regions supported establishing a new Board for Health Apps proposed by the Ministry of the Interior and Health. It is expected that recommendations from the Board will significantly impact the adoption of health apps.

In July 2023, Dutch Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) awarded 13 projects under the 2024 Round of the Efficiency Research program, including four projects in surgery, two projects for imaging diagnostics and one project on the AI-based algorithms in emergency settings.

In August 2023, the Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment (OSTEBA) is working on several HTAs, including the evaluations in the cardiovascular, diagnostic imaging, e-health, ENT, ICU/OR, nephrology and urology, IVD, neurovascular, obstetrics and gynecology, surgical procedures, and some other fields.

In August 2023, NHS England announced the first technology (AposHealth) that will be supported by the MedTech Funding Mandate (MTFM) in 2023/24. MTFM supports NICE-approved, clinically effective, and cost-saving medical devices, diagnostics, and digital technologies, making it mandatory for commissioners and providers to implement them.