HTA

In August 2023, the Danish Health Technology Council (Behandlingsråd) decided to conduct evaluations based on completed health technology assessments (HTA) from other countries, adopting their results to the Danish context. This evaluation method will be introduced in addition to the currently used. The Council has already selected the first four HTAs for evaluation.

In August 2023, the Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment (OSTEBA) is working on several HTAs, including the evaluations in the cardiovascular, diagnostic imaging, e-health, ENT, ICU/OR, nephrology and urology, IVD, neurovascular, obstetrics and gynecology, surgical procedures, and some other fields.

In June 2023, one assessment was published by the Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) concerning the review of clinical and cost-effectiveness evidence for a digital type 2 diabetes remission program in Scotland. Furthermore, six assessments are currently in development.

Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is an independent statutory authority that develops national health technology assessments to support decision-making in Ireland. In the second quarter of 2023, HIQA published one new Med Tech-related assessment concerning slot-scanning biplanar digital X-ray imaging systems for orthopedic conditions.

In August 2023, NHS England announced the first technology (AposHealth) that will be supported by the MedTech Funding Mandate (MTFM) in 2023/24. MTFM supports NICE-approved, clinically effective, and cost-saving medical devices, diagnostics, and digital technologies, making it mandatory for commissioners and providers to implement them.

In July 2023, Health Technology Wales completed one full appraisal on wearable cardioverter defibrillators with the publication of Evidence Appraisal Report (EAR) and Guidance. Furthermore, in July 2023, Health Technology Wales decided to proceed with a full appraisal of radiofrequency renal denervation in the treatment of resistant hypertension based on the published Topic Exploration Report.

In late June 2023, the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Center (KCE) published a report on relevance of transversal budget impact analysis. This type of analysis should be submitted as part of the application to the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) to obtain reimbursement for implants and invasive medical devices.

In July 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in England released one MedTech-related report in its Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Journal concerning MRI-based technologies for diagnosing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. 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.

In June 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published one new Interventional Procedure Guidance (irreversible electroporation for treating prostate cancer) and one new Diagnostic Guidance (AI-derived computer-aided detection (CAD) software for detecting and measuring lung nodules in CT scan images). Also, three clinical guidelines were updated.

In June 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published five new Interventional Procedure Guidance (intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy, minimally invasive fusionless posterior-approach surgery to correct idiopathic scoliosis, endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage, radiofrequency denervation for osteoarthritic knee pain, and Botulinum toxin type A injections into the urethral sphincter), two new Diagnostic Guidance (transperineal biopsy for prostate cancer, and FibroScan for liver fibrosis and cirrhosis), and two Medtech Innovation Briefings (MiraQ cardiac TTFM, Proov Confirm; their development started before April 2023). Also, four clinical guidelines were updated.

On June 27, 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) launched a consultation on the updated health technology evaluation process manual, initially published in January 2022. Key changes concerned introducing a new faster approach to technology appraisal development. The deadline for comments submission is July 25, 2023.

In May 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in England released two MedTech-related reports in its Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Journal, which endoscopic radiofrequency ablation in malignant biliary obstruction and screening for ovarian cancer. 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.