Sweden

In late January 2025, the Nordic Initiative for Environmental Labelling of Medical Supplies (NIELS) project was completed. The initiative was aimed to promote greener procurement of medical equipment by expanding the use of eco-labeling. Following its successful conclusion, the project is now considering opportunities to broaden the dialogue to a European level.

In February 2025, the MTP Council announced national evaluations of two technologies within the Orderly introduction framework in Sweden. The Council commissioned the Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) to perform a health economic evaluation of rectal spacers (SpaceOAR Hydrogel and Barrigel) used during radiotherapy in prostate cancer (re-evaluation) and AI-based solution (Stratipath Breast) for breast cancer risk assessment.

In November 2024, the annual update of the Swedish NordDRG system was published to come into force on January 1, 2025. No new DRGs were introduced. In 2025, to obtain DRG tariffs, cost-weights must be multiplied by a base rate of 88,061 SEK.

In December 2024, the Skåne University Hospital (HTA South) is working on health technology assessments in several areas, including men’s health and neurology.

In October 2024, the annual update of the Swedish procedure coding system (Classification of Health Care Measures, KVÅ) was released to come into force on January 1, 2025. A total of 55 new surgical procedure codes and 43 new medical procedure codes were introduced concerning diagnostic imaging, endoscopy, ENT, men’s health, nephrology and urology, gynecology, orthopedics, pulmonology, and some other areas.

On September 20, 2024, the Swedish Medical Technologies Product (MTP) Council commissioned the Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) to perform a health economic evaluation of hybrid closed-loop systems for adults with type 1 diabetes. This evaluation is a part of the Orderly introduction framework, a staged process aimed at managing the national introduction of novel technologies. Based on the TLV assessment, the MTP Council will make recommendations to regions regarding the implementation of the technology and the criteria for use.

On May 6, 2024, the Swedish Medical Technologies Product (MTP) Council commissioned the Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) to perform a health economic evaluation of MR-guided focused ultrasound (Exablate Neuro) for the treatment of patients with essential tremor and Parkinson's disease. This evaluation is a part of the Orderly introduction framework, a staged process aimed at managing the national introduction of novel technologies. Based on the TLV assessment, the MTP Council will make recommendations to regions regarding the implementation of the technology and the criteria for use.

On March 26, 2024, the Swedish Medical Technologies Product (MTP) Council recommended three spinal cord stimulation devices (Intellis, Proclaim, and WaveWriter) for patients with neuropathic pain and insufficient effect of conventional treatment. Devices have been evaluated as part of the Orderly introduction framework.

In February 2024, the Skåne University Hospital is working on several HTAs, including evaluations in the cardiovascular, e-health, endocrine, men’s health, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics fields.

On December 04, 2023, the Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency initiated its work on a few more health economic assessments of Sedaconda-ACD by Sedana Medical, a disposable product for administering anesthetic gases for patients treated on a ventilator and an alternative to intravenous anesthetics as well as robotic systems for spine surgery, including ExcelsiusGPS by Globus Medical, Mazor X Stealth by Medtronic, Cirq by Brainlab. The assessments are planned to be accomplished during 2024.

On November 07, 2023, the Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) accomplished its work on health economic assessments of Intellis and WaveWriter Alpha – spinal cord stimulation systems used for the treatment of long-term, intractable pain. Overall, TLV assesses that the results uncertainty level is high.

On November 7, 2023, the annual update of the Swedish NordDRG system was published to come into force on January 1, 2024. A total of 16 new DRGs will be implemented concerning ENT, radiology, and primary care.