In late February 2021, eleven out of fifteen needed members and three observers of the Treatment Council (Behandlingsråd) were appointed in Denmark. The Treatment Council is a new model for assessing treatment methods and health technologies, expected to become fully operational in early 2021. Earlier in February 2021, the final method and process framework of the Treatment Council was approved.

In February 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published one new medical technologies guidance (Leukomed Sorbact for preventing surgical site infection) and seven new Medtech innovation briefings (PROPEL sinus implants, URO17 for detecting bladder cancer, Faecal microbiota transplant, DOAC Dipstick for detecting oral anticoagulants, CytoSorb for reducing the risk of bleeding during cardiac surgery, and others).

The Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services (SBU) systematically evaluates healthcare technologies and practices from medical, economic, ethical, and social standpoints. Currently, the SBU is working on assessments of treatment methods of gastrointestinal conditions, musculoskeletal disorders, pain treatment, medical aids, e-health technologies, and other topics.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland develops HTAs and clinical guidelines to support decision-making. In the fourth quarter of 2020, Healthcare Improvement Scotland published assessments of continuous glucose monitoring in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes, endobronchial valves for lung volume reduction in patients with severe emphysema, and other topics.

In February 2021, NICE announced the launch of a new 5-year strategic plan that will be presented at the virtual event on April 19, 2021. Registration is free but mandatory to attend the event.

In February 2021, the Health Technology Assessment Agency of the Health Institute Carlos III published the report for the efficacy and safety of robotic spinal surgery compared to manual surgery in spinal fusion.

NHS England and Improvement (NHSEI) approved the merging of 38 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to create nine new CCGs that will take effect from April 2021. After these changes take place, the total number of CCGs will be 106.

On February 4, 2021, the guide on dossier submission to the Medical Device and Health Technology Evaluation Committee (CNEDiMTS) for the inclusion of the device in the List of Reimbursable Products and Services (LPPR) was published in English. Furthermore, the guide was recently updated with the information dedicated to the technologies falling within the scope of artificial intelligence.

In February 2021, NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC) published an "Our year in focus 2019/20" report. In 2019/20, AAC programs supported over 2,500 innovations. The report provides information regarding AAC achievements in their priority areas and identifies future development of innovation funding programs.

In early February 2021, the final method and process frameworks of the Treatment Council (Behandlingsråd) were approved in Denmark. The Treatment Council is a new model for assessing treatments and health technologies, expected to become fully operational in early 2021.

On February 5, 2021, the French Ministry of Solidarity and Health published the results of the pre-selection of applications submitted in 2020 for participating in the coverage with evidence development programs. Regarding the Health Economic Research Program (PRME), 20 applications regarding various medical technologies were selected, including high throughput genome sequencing analysis in pediatric diagnostics, robotic thoracic surgery during lobectomy or segmentectomy in lung cancer, robotic gastric bypass for morbid obesity, mechanical thrombectomy techniques in the treatment of ischemic stroke, CAR-T cell therapy in the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, creation of arteriovenous accesses for hemodialysis - the surgical technique and the endovascular technique, etc. Regarding the national Hospital Program of Clinical Research (PHRC-N), 205 applications were pre-selected.

In February 2021, Healthcare Improvement Scotland released a review of recently published evidence to inform the National Planning Robotic Review Group on the impact of the number of robotic-assisted procedures (gynecological, colorectal, urological) per treatment center/surgeon on the outcomes achieved and any related evidence on the learning curves for these procedures.