Health technology assessment

HAS published updated program that defines priority areas of work for 2017, including evidence review as part of developing new procedure codes for robotic surgery, endoscopic procedures, and technology assessments of remote monitoring, dialysis, coronary stents and others.

In second two weeks of May, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published two Medtech Innovation Briefings (collagen paste for anal fistulae and portable pulse‑echo ultrasound device to assist diagnosis of osteoporosis) one Interventional Procedure Guidance for endoscopic full thickness removal of non-lifting colonic polyps.

French National Authority for Health (HAS) released new decisions about add-on and medical aid reimbursement of 9 medical devices from the meetings of the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) in May and April. Among others decision included MRI compatible and recharge free spinal cord stimulation devices, resorbable plates for osteosynthesis.

The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWIG) published final report of evaluation of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with heel. Results demonstrated benefit of the extracorporeal treatment in comparison with placebo, ultrasound and iontophoresis.

An updated form for notification of medical technology to Italian national health technology assessment program has been released in May. Any stakeholder, including industry, can make notification, which will be reviewed and prioritize every six months.

Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services (SBU) is working on three health technology assessment projects, related to medical technologies and in-vitro diagnostics, including diagnostics of prostate cancer, diagnostics of endometriosis and surgery for arm fractures in elderly.

In 2016, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) commissioned the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) to perform evaluation of controlled active motion (CAM) in patients with rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. The final report of assessment was published on May of 2017. No definite conclusion can be made in relation to comparative efficacy and safety of studied technologies due to lack of evidence.

In 2014, Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) commissioned Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) to conduct health technology assessment of different approaches for lung volume reduction in patients with severe pulmonary emphysema. And now IQWiG has published the final report. The main conclusion is that it was not possible to draw any conclusion about relative effectiveness of bronchoscopic and surgical methods due to lack of the data.

The report issued within the framework of Joint Action 3 confirmed superiority of triclosan-coated sutures in reducing the risk of total incisional surgical site infections over non-antibacterial coated sutures. No conclusions were made in relation to the chlorhexidine-coated sutures due to lack of evidence.

European Commission launched an evaluation of necessity to prolong support to cooperation between health technology assessment agencies beyond 2020, when the current EUnetHTA Joint Action 3 comes to an end) in September 2016. As part of the assessment, it launched an online public consultation in October 2016, which ended in January 2017. The objective of the consultation was to collect views of different stakeholders on the future of collaboration in the HTA field.

In first two weeks of May NICE has published one Diagnostic Guidance, two Medtech Innovation Briefings, one Interventional Procedure Guidance, and has updated three Clinical Guidelines.

National Commission for the Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) positively appraised Verrata and Verrate Plus guidewires for add-on reimbursement via LPPR title V. Level of added clinical value was considered moderate (ASA III) in comparison with management strategy, based solely on angiography data. This decision complements decision early this year in relation to St. Jude Medical’s (now Abbott) PressureWire FFR wires.