Health technology assessment

In the first half of January, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published five new Medtech innovation briefings for in vitro diagnostic test for determining breast cancer subtypes, point-of-care creatinine tests before contrast-enhanced imaging, plasma EGFR mutation tests for adults with locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer, smartphone otoscope and sequencing panel for solid tumour cancers in children .

The Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment (OSTEBA) published results of assessments of home telemonitoring on patients with heart failure. This intervention was considered as effective and cost-effectiveness technology. However, further research is needed to specify criteria for better application.

In the second half of November, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new interventional procedures guidance (for hypoglossal nerve stimulation for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea and processed nerve allografts to repair peripheral nerve discontinuities).

The Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre and the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Care innovation have signed an agreement to invest 6 million euros in the pilot project Belgium-Netherlands Funding of International Trials (BeNeFIT) for conduction of comparative, practice-oriented clinical studies which is relevant to patients, caregivers and policymakers in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Emilia Romagna Region announced the launch of two new series of documents, according to the new regional assessment framework for medical devices developed during 2017: rapid assessment reports and preliminary information reports.

Emilia Romagna Region published a preliminary information report on the CytoSorb® device, an extracorporeal cytokine adsorber for the reduction of circulating cytokines in the blood stream.

Emilia Romagna Region published a rapid assessment report on the cardiac cryoablation catheter (also known as cryoballoon) for atrial fibrillation (AF). The authors concluded that, compared to radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation is not linked to higher effectiveness but presents shorter procedural time.Emilia Romagna Region published a rapid assessment report on the cardiac cryoablation catheter (also known as cryoballoon) for atrial fibrillation (AF). The authors concluded that, compared to radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation is not linked to higher effectiveness but presents shorter procedural time.

EUnetHTA has published project plan of rapid assessment of TAVI procedure in patients with intermediate risk. Current plan describes the design and methodology of the assessment, list of involved reviewers, stakeholders and timelines of the project. The final report will be prepared till the end of January 2018.

In the first half of November, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new interventional procedures guidance (for total distal radioulnar joint replacement in symptomatic joint instability or arthritis and extracranial to intracranial bypass in intracranial atherosclerosis), one new diagnostics guidance for tests to identify people at high risk of ovarian cancer and four new Medtech innovation briefings.

The Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment (OSTEBA) published results of assessments of different techniques for biopsy of prostate. In accordance to this report, biopsy with image fusion (MRI and ultrasound) can be considered as a first diagnostic option for prostate biopsy.

In the second half of October, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new clinical guidelines (for cataracts in adults and cystic fibrosis), and published two new Medtech innovation briefings for radiation dose monitoring software for medical imaging with ionising radiation and Promonitor for monitoring response to biologics in rheumatoid arthritis.