Health technology assessment

At the request of the Minister for Medical Care, the Sensible Care program, launched in 2013 by the Dutch Healthcare Institute, is replaced by the Appropriate Care program in order to improve the organization of medical care and optimize health care costs in the Netherlands. The ongoing 29 projects under the Sensible Care program will continue in the context of the Appropriate Care program.

On October 7, 2021, the Treatment Council (Behandlingsråd), a new body for assessing treatments and health technologies that became fully operational in late May 2021, has decided to initiate its first assessment. It will concern the use of metal stents in the treatment of chronic ureteral strictures.

In September 2021, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in England released two MedTech-related reports in its Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Journal, which concerned non-invasive imaging software for coronary stenosis assessment (QAngio XA 3D/QFR and CAAS vFFR) and quantitative fetal fibronectin test to predict preterm labor. HTA Journal publishes research reports on the effectiveness, costs, and broader impact of health technologies for those who use, manage, and provide care in the NHS and informs National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.

The Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) is a national health technology assessment (HTA) agency providing advice to NHSScotland on the use of new and existing health technologies, likely to have a significant impact on healthcare. In the third quarter of 2021, SHTG published only one report in relation to HeartFlow fractional flow reserve computerized tomography (FFRCT). Currently, the SHTG is working on assessments of technologies in the field of diabetes, digital health, surgical procedures, and other topics.

In September 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published three new Interventional Procedure Guidance (transapical transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantation for a failed surgically implanted mitral valve bioprosthesis, transapical transcatheter mitral valve-in-ring (TMVIR) after failed annuloplasty for mitral valve repair, and lateral elbow resurfacing for arthritis), and two new Medtech Innovation Briefings (Carnation Ambulatory Monitor, OrganOx metra for liver transplant). Also, one clinical guideline was updated.

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.

Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) develops national HTA guidelines to support decision-making in Ireland. In the third quarter of 2021, Health Information and Quality Authority published three reports in relation to in-vitro diagnostics, including newborn bloodspot screening, tests for hepatitis C and SARS-CoV-2.

In September 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published three new Interventional Procedure Guidance on transapical transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve implantation for a failed surgically implanted mitral valve bioprosthesis, transapical transcatheter mitral valve-in-ring (TMVIR) after failed annuloplasty for mitral valve repair, and lateral elbow resurfacing for arthritis

On 17 September 2021, the European Health and Digital Executive Agency signed the Service Contract for the Provision of Joint Health Technology Assessment Work Supporting the Continuation of EU Cooperation on HTA. The contract has now been awarded to the EUnetHTA21 consortium, which comprises the following 13 organizations from the EUnetHTA. The project will start in September 2021 and will run for two years (until September 2023).

In August 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published three new Interventional Procedure Guidance (magnetic resonance therapy for knee osteoarthritis, laparoscopic removal of uterine fibroids with power morcellation, hysteroscopic mechanical tissue removal for uterine fibroids), and six new Medtech Innovation Briefings (PLASMA system with button electrode, Immunoscore, MMprofiler, Patient Status Engine, lung texture analysis, Colli-Pee). Also, five clinical guidelines were published.

At the end of August, the complete method assessment for continuous glucose measurement for patients with type I diabetes with the main focus on patients over 18 years old was initiated as a part of a “New Method” framework. The assessment will be carried out at the National Institute of Public Health; besides the use of continuous glucose monitoring, flash glucose monitoring is considered as well.

The HTA body of the Tuscany Regional Healthcare issues two types of documents: HTA forms and motivational forms. With a regional decree 14763 of August 25, 2021, Tuscany Regional Healthcare has published assessments of thirteen medical devices of various therapeutic areas, including devices belonging to the obstetrics and gynecology field, as well as gastroenterology, urology, cardiovascular, endoscopy, spine, peripheral vascular, and other fields of care.