Screening methods

In late July 2019, the report of the project OTJA10, titled “Stool DNA testing for early detection of colorectal cancer” was published on the website of the European Network for HTA (EUnetHTA).

The test for severe combined immunodeficiencies (SCID) is part of neonatal screening since July 1, 2019, in Germany. At the beginning of July 2019, the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) has stated that health care should offer screening for the severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) as approximately two or three children per each year can be diagnosed and treated for the fatal disease with the test available.

The colorectal cancer screening program became organized in Germany on April 19, 2019. Until now, only the breast cancer screening program was the only organized screening program. The Evaluation Committee has already updated the EBM catalog.

During November-December 2018, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has introduced an organized screening program for the early detection of cervical cancer and initiated consultation procedure for prostate cancer screening.

In the second half of April, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published one diagnostic guidance on adjunctive colposcopy technologies for assessing suspected cervical abnormalities, four Interventional Procedure Guidance for robot-assisted kidney transplant, nerve transfer to partially restore upper limb function in tetraplegia, prostate artery embolisation for lower urinary tract symptoms caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia and microinvasive subconjunctival insertion of a trans-scleral gelatin stent for primary open-angle glaucoma, and two new MedTech Innovation Briefings for sleep mask for diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular oedema and disinfecting cap for needleless connectors.