Finland

On June 5, 2023, the updated version of the Laboratory test nomenclature was published by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) to come into force on July 1, 2023. A total of 138 new codes were introduced.

In April 2023, the Finnish Coordinating Center for Health Technology Assessment (FinCCHTA) released three health technology assessments in the field of eHealth, including the assessment of Thermidas thermal imaging system as well as two comparison reports of Digi-HTA with NorDEC and DiGAV frameworks.

In February 2023, it was announced that fifty-seven new procedure codes were introduced by the Code Service of the Finnish National Health and Wellbeing Institution (THL). These codes are valid from January 2023. The introduced codes are dedicated to radiology, diagnostic imaging, gastrointestinal, interventional radiology, and some other fields.

On January 1, 2023, the annual update of the Finnish NordDRG system came into force. There are 947 DRGs in the 2023 DRG system, compared to 930 DRGs in 2022. Among other changes, 34 new DRGs were introduced, including the DRGs in the cardiovascular, endocrine, endoscopy, gastrointestinal, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, peripheral vascular, surgical procedures, and some other fields.

In the second half of October 2022, 47 new procedure codes were introduced by the Code Service of the Finnish National Health and Wellbeing Institution (THL). These codes became valid on November 1, 2022. The introduced codes are dedicated to diagnostic imaging, endoscopy, gastrointestinal, radiotherapy, pulmonary and airways, surgical procedures, and some other fields.

In August 2022, the Finnish Coordinating Center for Health Technology Assessment published an article regarding the implementation of a new Digi-HTA process for digital health technologies in Finland. This study aimed to determine whether it would be possible to use Digi-HTA recommendations to support healthcare decision-makers. Secondly, from the perspective of companies offering different types of digital health technology products, this study assessed the suitability of using the Digi-HTA framework to perform HTAs for their products.

In the first half of July 2022, 13 new procedure codes were introduced by the Code Service of the Finnish National Health and Wellbeing Institution (THL). The introduced codes are dedicated to diagnostic imaging, surgical procedures, radiology, and some other fields.

In July 2022, the Finnish Coordinating Center for Health Technology Assessment (FinCCHTA) published on its website five Digi-HTAs in the fields of eHealth and in-vitro diagnostics.

On July 1, 2022, the Laboratory Tests Nomenclature (Laboratoriotutkimusnimikkeistö) was updated in Finland. The validity period of seven coronavirus tests was extended until June 30, 2023. Two new codes in the field of physiology were added.

In February 2022, the Finnish Coordinating Center for Health Technology Assessment announced the release of the seven accomplished rapid hospital assessments performed by the Helsinki, Tampere, and Oulu University Hospital. The accomplished rapid HTAs concern the diagnostic imaging, e-Health, endocrine, endoscopy, men’s health, neuromodulation technology groups.

The Council for Choices in Health Care in Finland (PALKO) has discontinued the development of recommendations concerning companion diagnostic tests. The respective preparations were completed in November 2021.

In late January 2022, 19 new procedure codes were introduced by the Code Service of the Finnish National Health and Wellbeing Institution (THL). The introduced codes are dedicated to diagnostic imaging and image-guided interventions.