Health technology assessment

Three mini-method assessments regarding the magnetic non-radioactive detection system SentiMag Sienna + of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer, cough reflex testing and emergency targeted ultrasound implementation were initiated by Oslo University Hospital in June of 2018. All finalized mini-method assessments are published in the National Database for Mini-HTA.

In June of 2018, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) has published a single technology assessment regarding the MicraTM Transcatheter Pacing System (Micra TPS) - a leadless pacemaker produced by Medtronic to reduce the rate of complications following pacemaker implantations through design and novel technology. The objective of the assessment was to investigate the clinical efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness of Micra TPS in patients indicated for single chamber ventricular pacemaker implantation. The results have shown that the current evidence is not sufficient to prove that the Micra TPS gives less complications than standard pacemakers, also the use of Micra appeared not to be cost-effective.

In the second half of June, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new interventional procedure guidance for laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy for internal rectal prolapse and MRI-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy for treatment-resistant essential tremor, and two new medtech innovation briefings for negative pressure wound therapy for closed surgical incision wounds and ocular response analyzer to measure corneal hysteresis.

On 6th of July, 2018, the European network for health technology assessment, EUnetHTA, has opened the public consultation on ‘Horizon Scanning, Topic Identification, Selection and Prioritisation for European Cooperation on HTA – Draft recommendations.’

In April 2018, a national HTA program has been launched in order to re-evaluate benefits presently covered by the mandatory health insurance.

In late June 2018, the Andalusian Agency for Evaluation of Health Technologies, AETSA, has released a report on the efficacy and safety leadless pacemaker.

At the beginning of June 2018, the Health Technology Evaluation Service of the Basque County, OSTEBA, has published an assessment of effectiveness, safety and indications of radiological bone suppression technology for the detection of lung cancer.

In the first half of June, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published one new interventional procedure guidance for Intranasal phototherapy for allergic rhinitis and one new medtech innovation briefing for lung volume analysis in emphysema.

In the second half of May, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new interventional procedure guidance for low-level laser therapy for preventing or treating oral mucositis caused by radiotherapy or chemotherapy and endoscopic bipolar radiofrequency ablation for treating biliary obstruction caused by cancer.

Two mini-method assessments regarding brachytherapy for esophageal cancer and targeted gene deep-sequencing panels were initiated by Oslo University Hospital in May of 2018. All finalized mini-method assessments are published in the National Database for Mini-HTA.

Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) conducted a full health technology assessment (HTA) of Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) using 177Luthetium (177Lu-PRRT) on the request from payers (“New methods” framework for introduction of innovations in Norway).

The Ludwig Boltzmann Institute (LBI-HTA), the Austrian HTA body, develops health technology assessments of medical technologies to support decision-making about coverage of these methods in Austrian public reimbursement system. MTRC summarized the list of reports to be published by LBI-HTA until the end of 2018.