HTA

On July 27, 2022, the EUnetHTA 21 released the assessment framework for high-risk medical devices (MDs) and in-vitro-diagnostics (IVDs). The objective of this deliverable is to define the framework for Joint Clinical Assessments of high-risk MDs and IVDs with a view to fostering national uptake of the Joint Clinical Assessments reports early in the life cycle of a single technology.

In July 2022, the French National Authority for Health (HAS) published seven new opinions which were based on health technology assessment reports. These are related to endoscopy, IVD tests, neuromodulation, and primary care settings. The main goal of these HTA reports was to spoort decision-making for the creation of new procedure codes in the Common Classification of Medical Procedures (CCAM) and the Nomenclature of Medical Biology Procedures (NABM).

In the second quarter of 2022, Health Technology Wales (HTW) published four MedTech-related guidance (extreme hypofractionated radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer, video laryngoscopes for use in pre-hospital care, electronic blood management systems, and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma). A total of 12 MedTech-related Topic Exploration Reports (TERs) were released in Q2. Based on the TERs conclusions, HTW decided to proceed with a full appraisal on three topics – photobiomodulation, topical oxygen therapy (NATROX) in chronic wounds, and video feedback interventions.

On July 20, 2022, Health Institute Carlos III released two HTA reports regarding endoanchoring systems in endovascular aortic aneurysm repair and transanal irrigation in bowel dysfunction.

The Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) is a national health technology assessment (HTA) agency providing advice to NHSScotland on using new and existing health technologies, likely to significantly impact healthcare. In July 2022, SHTG published three reports (KardiaMobile for detecting atrial fibrillation, complex endovascular aneurysm repair, and Togetherall platform). Currently, the SHTG is working on assessments of technologies in the field of cancer, radiotherapy, musculoskeletal diseases, transplantation, and other topics.

In July 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new Interventional Procedure Guidance (transcatheter tricuspid valve annuloplasty for tricuspid regurgitation, and transcatheter tricuspid valve leaflet repair for tricuspid regurgitation), one new Diagnostic Guidance (PLGF-based testing to help diagnose suspected preterm pre-eclampsia), and four new Medtech Innovation Briefings (ProciseDx point-of-care platform for IBD, RespiraSense for continuously monitoring respiratory rate, Lenus COPD Support Service, and cyanoacrylate glue for hernia mesh fixation). Also, five clinical guidelines were updated.

In July 2022, the Finnish Coordinating Center for Health Technology Assessment (FinCCHTA) published on its website five Digi-HTAs in the fields of eHealth and in-vitro diagnostics.

In June 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published three new Interventional Procedure Guidance (vertebral body tethering for idiopathic scoliosis, nerve graft for corneal denervation, and synthetic cartilage implant insertion for first metatarsophalangeal joint osteoarthritis). Also, four new clinical guidelines were published.

On June 15, 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) announced designing Health Technology Assessment innovation Laboratory (HTA Lab), a new collaborative space for research and development. It will help drive solutions to current and future health challenges, taking innovation from the lab into practice, using a "sandbox" approach

On June 15, 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) announced a new program called Early Value Assessment for Medtech. The program will offer a rapid assessment of digital products, devices, and diagnostics for clinical effectiveness and value for money where the evidence base is still emerging to inform NHS commissioners. The two pilot assessments for health apps will begin in June 2022 and are expected to be published in October 2022. Further topics are expected in mental health, early cancer diagnosis, and cardiovascular disease.

In May 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Research in England released three MedTech-related reports in its Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Journal, which concerned colonoscopy surveillance following adenoma removal and transfer of thawed frozen embryo versus fresh embryo to improve the healthy baby rate in women undergoing IVF, and digital smartphone intervention for schizophrenia. 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 guidance.

In May 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published three new Interventional Procedure Guidance (endoanchoring systems in endovascular aortic aneurysm repair, supercapsular percutaneously assisted total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis, personalized external aortic root support using mesh in people with Marfan syndrome), one Medical Technologies Guidance (Sleepio to treat insomnia and insomnia symptoms), and six Medtech innovation Briefings (ViewSite Brain Access System, Granulox for managing chronic wounds, AMBLor for identifying melanomas, Bladder EpiCheck for detecting bladder cancer recurrence, and others). No MedTech-related clinical guidelines were published.