Funding

On November 18, 2021, Swedish Medical Technologies Product (MTP) Council recommended the use of gene expression analysis (Prosigna and OncotypeDX) for decision-making on the adjuvant breast cancer treatment. The technologies have been under evaluation within the Orderly introduction framework since 2020.

In November 2021, NHSX announced projects to improve digital pathways awarded for funding from the newly created Adoption Fund. Funding opportunities will support Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) with initiatives to test out digital pathways across various specialty areas, including gastroenterology, musculoskeletal, and cardiology. A total of 35 applications were successful and will share funding of £6.5 million.

On September 27, 2021, the Decision Forum for "New Methods" decided not to introduce bronchial thermoplasty as a routine treatment of patients with severe asthma. The method should only be used within clinical trials.

On September 29, 2021, NHSX announced the first phase winners of a Digital Health Partnership Award aimed to help NHS organizations receive funding to accelerate the adoption of digital health products and services to monitor patients with long-term conditions remotely. There will be three categories of funding: projects requiring the support of up to £100,000, £250,000, and £500,000.

On September 30, 2021, the 2020/21 National Tariff Payment System was published in England, and it came into effect on October 01, 2021. The publication has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On September 10, 2021, it was announced that the Government of Spain had increased the budget allocated to the Spanish Network of Agencies for the Evaluation of Health Technologies and Benefits (RedETS) by 48.2% (compared to last year) for the development of the annual work plan. In total, the 2021 budget for the evaluation of health technologies in the National Health System amounts to €6,149,510. As a consequence of the budget increase, the RedETS 2021 Work Plan has included three new lines of evaluation.

In August 2021, NHS announced rolling out genetic testing for monogenic diabetes and placental growth factor (PLGF) testing to rule out pre-eclampsia. These decisions are made in line with the NHS Long Term Plan committed to increasing access to genomic testing, improving diabetes care across the country, and investing in cutting-edge technologies.

On August 30, 2021, the Decision Forum for "New Methods" made a positive coverage decision for two methods: Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy (TUMT) for benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment and organ donation using normothermic regional perfusion in patients with severe brain injury and who died of cardiac and respiratory arrest when life-prolonging treatment is discontinued.

On August 31, 2021, NHSX published a set of guidelines for digitized healthcare, including the Unified Tech Fund (UTF) prospectus, which seeks to simplify and consolidate the process for accessing technology funding. The UTF brings together several national technology funds. This amounts to £680 million available to NHS organizations throughout the financial year 2021 to 2022. The applications submission is open from August 31, 2021.

On August 31, 2021, NHSX published a set of guidelines for digitized healthcare to support Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) and individual health and care organizations to transform services for patients. Three guidelines are available now to help local leaders to accelerate digital transformation in their organizations and support the NHS Long Term commitment to digitize the entire NHS for the benefit of patients and staff.

On July 13, 2021, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (ZIN) announced three projects which were awarded under the "Subsidy scheme for promising care" framework. Two projects concerned MedTech - artificial pancreas and knee distraction.

On July 7, 2021, a Decree which defines the new annual budget of €20 million for breast cancer genomic tests has been published. The Decree describes the access procedure and the requirements for the disbursement of the budget. This Fund will provide “free” access to genomic testing to women from all Italian regions who could benefit from the testing.