Prostate cancer

On January 30, 2023, the Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK) published the list of the requests for innovation funding (NUB) that were submitted by the hospitals in 2022. The medical technologies belonging to the cardiovascular, eHealth, gastrointestinal, neuromodulation, neurovascular, peripheral vascular, orthopedic, and other technology groups obtained positive status 1.

In the fourth quarter of 2022, Health Technology Wales published three MedTech-related guidance (Left atrial appendage occlusion in patients with atrial fibrillation, continuous topical oxygen therapy, and virtual reality distraction therapy). Four Topic Exploration Reports were released as well (virtual wards, genetic testing for prostate cancer, autofluorescence imaging, and geniculate artery embolization); however, Health Technology Wales decided not to proceed with complete appraisals on these topics.

On October 17, 2022, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the decision, recommending the transfer to standard care for another completed project. The project relates to the improvement of the management of cancer patients.

The French National Authority for Health released new recommendations about add-on reimbursement of medical devices from the meetings of the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies in August 2022. One recommendation was published in relation to the registration for devices in the List of reimbursable products and services (LPPR List). The opinion concerns men’s health area.

On March 16, 2022, the Swedish Medical Technologies Product (MTP) Council released recommendations for SpaceOAR Hydrogel and Barrigel used to reduce the side effects of radiotherapy in prostate cancer. MTP Council recommended the regions wait with the use of technologies until more knowledge is available or use them only within the clinical trials.

Dutch Organization for Health Research and Development, ZonMw awarded eight projects under the "Healthcare Evaluation and Appropriate Use" program, including two projects for geriatric care, two projects for cancer, per one project for cardiovascular, neurovascular, and dermatology care.

On January 28, 2022, the Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK) has published the list of the requests for innovation funding (NUB) that were submitted by the hospitals in 2021. The medical technologies belonging to the cardiovascular, ENT, eHealth, gastrointestinal, neuromodulation, neurovascular, orthopedic, and other technology groups obtained positive status 1.

On August 05, 2021, NHS England published an update of the Specialized Services Policy Pipeline (covering April 27, 2021 - July 27, 2021). No new MedTech-related Clinical Commissioning Policies were added to the work program. Nine new policies were published; however, only two concerned MedTech (ECMO and brachytherapy). The status of ongoing policies was updated as well.

The revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog came into force on July 1, 2021. Three biomarker tests in breast cancer, a number of services related to cryopreservation of egg and sperm cells in young cancer patients, new services dedicated to prenatal testing of the fetal rhesus factor, services concerning the delivery of brachytherapy in prostate cancer were introduced.

On January 29, 2021, the Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK) has published the List of the requests for innovation funding (NUB) that were submitted by the hospitals in 2020. The medical technologies belonging to the cardiovascular, ENT, eHealth, gastrointestinal, neuromodulation, neurovascular, orthopedic, and other technology groups obtained positive status 1.

In Sensible Care projects, the Dutch Healthcare Institute, together with other parties, is investigating the possibilities for improving care pathways for patients. As of early November 2020, there are 30 ongoing projects, including two projects for assessing knee and hip osteoarthritis treatment and medicines for castration-refractory prostate carcinoma at the final evaluation phase.

In July 2020, the network of European HTA agencies, EUnetHTA, announced a final project plan of the project OTCA25 “Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for lung, prostate, and liver cancer.”