mHealth

On November 6, 2024, the first meeting of the Board for Health Apps was held in Denmark. As soon as the Board determines the criteria according to which it will assess health apps, it will be possible to apply for assessment followed by recommendations

In October 2024, the Finnish Coordinating Center for Health Technology Assessment released a report aiming to summarize the results of the comparative analysis of Finnish Digi-HTA and French Early coverage of digital medical devices framework (PECAN) assessment criteria. The analysis focuses on the frameworks' general aspects and the cybersecurity requirements.

Between mid-January 2024 and mid-February 2024, three more health apps were introduced in the Directory of digital health applications (DiGAs) at the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and thus became reimbursable. These apps can be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists and will be reimbursed by health insurers. In total, 56 health apps are currently available in the DiGA Directory, and six health apps were delisted from the Directory.

Between early September 2023 and mid-January 2024, four more health apps were introduced in the Directory of digital health applications (DiGAs) at the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and thus became reimbursable. These apps can be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists and will be reimbursed by health insurers. In total, 53 health apps are currently available in the DiGA Directory, and six health apps were delisted from the Directory.

In December 2023, the Government, Danish Regions, and Municipalities (KL) signed an agreement providing 500 million DKK from 2023 to 2028 to promote the spread of digital treatment services. This will include technologies for home monitoring and targeted control for patients with chronic diseases (such as diabetes, COPD, and heart failure), thus reducing the number of physical check-ups and preventing unnecessary hospitalizations.

On December 21, 2023, the revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog for the first quarter of 2024 was published. The most significant changes concern the update of Annex 2 of the catalog, the introduction of the new EBM codes for external electrical cardioversion in adult and pediatric patients, follow-up and evaluation of the health app companion patella, as well as a companion diagnostics test for genotyping to determine CYP2C19 metabolism status.

In November 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published four new Interventional Procedure Guidance (percutaneous thrombectomy for pulmonary embolism, percutaneous transarterial carotid artery stent placement for asymptomatic extracranial carotid stenosis, biodegradable subacromial spacer insertion for rotator cuff tears, extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal for acute respiratory failure) and one Health Technology Evaluation using early value assessment (virtual reality technologies for treating agoraphobia or agoraphobic avoidance). Also, five clinical guidelines were updated.

In late October 2023, the UK Government announced £100 million funding for the “AI Life Sciences Accelerator Mission”. The Mission will advance and expand the use of AI in life sciences and tackle the country’s major health challenges outlined by Life Sciences Vision.

In November 2023, the Danish Regions announced the launch of a national telemedicine solution for patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The telemedicine platform Telma, developed by regions and municipalities, comprises a software application for patients connected to devices measuring patients' clinical parameters (such as blood oxygen), which clinicians then assess remotely.

On October 26, 2023, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) reported that 236 applications were received for innovation funding of healthcare research projects.

In October 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new Interventional Procedure Guidance (percutaneous deep venous arterialisation, vaginal transluminal endoscopic hysterectomy and adnexal surgery) and two Health Technology Evaluations using early value assessment (digital technologies for delivering specialist weight-management services, virtual ward platform technologies for acute respiratory infections). Also, one new clinical guideline was published, and eight were updated.

The updated German Uniform Evaluation Standard (EBM) catalog came into force on October 1, 2023. The EBM catalog (Einheitlicher Bewertungsmaßstab) regulates the reimbursement of services in the public outpatient sector in Germany and is updated once a quarter (four times a year). Among other changes, a new code for “Mawendo” and “Oviva Direkt für Adipositas” health apps were introduced in the catalog.