Screening

The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) has selected four out of 31 themes for the future health technology assessments, which were proposed by the citizens at the web-site of ThemenCheck Medizin service and will presumably be published at the beginning of 2019. The next process of topics’ selection will start in August of 2018.

According to the recommendation of the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen), hospitals and clinics should not offer screening for prostate cancer with PSA tests with or without other supplementary tests before tissue sampling. The recommendation is based on that the benefit of screening for prostate cancer with PSA tests does not outweigh the negative effects on a population level.

The National Board of Health has not updated recommendations for cervical cancer screening since 2012. New evidence has been obtained for the detection of HPV infection as a screening method instead of or as a supplement to microscopic examination of cervical cells, and several countries plan to rearrange their screening programs.

Following the request of a patient organization, the Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) evaluated the newborn screening for tyrosinemia type I by tandem mass spectrometry and decided to include the method into the relevant guideline. Before the method can be applied and reimbursed in the statutory health insurance (SHI) in Germany, the Genetic Diagnostics Act requires approval by the Genetic Diagnostics Commission (GEKO).

On 25th of September, the Norwegian Decision Forum of “New Methods” had a meeting to review several medical technologies and IVD tests. Decisions were made in relation to the introduction of 2 new newborn screening tests, prehospital emergency thoracotomy, aortic valve replacement using sutureless stent Perceval, and digital breast tomosynthesis.

Eleven national population screening programmes are implemented in the NHS on the advice of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), which makes independent, evidence-based recommendations to ministers in the 4 UK countries. The Screening Quality Assurance Service ensures programmes are safe and effective by checking that national standards are met. Changes in 2017 are related to KPIs for bowel, breast, and cervical cancer screening.