On April 20, 2021, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (ZIN) published an annual report on the progress of the conditional reimbursement program. In 2020, there were 13 ongoing projects under the program, six of which concerned medical technologies. Furthermore, in 2020, percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy for the treatment of lumbosacral radicular syndrome in lumbar disc herniation was included in the basic insurance package as regular care.

Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) develops national HTA guidelines to support decision-making in Ireland. In the first quarter of 2021, Health Information and Quality Authority published only one assessment on the topic of Extended Interval Screening by the Diabetic RetinaScreen Programme.

On April 19, 2021, NICE has presented a new 5-year strategic plan at the virtual event. NICE provided clarifications and answered the questions on its strategy for 2021 to 2026 published in April that identified key trends and four strategic pillars indicating the significant changes NICE wants to make.

The online application form is announced to be activated on April 26, 2021. The applications can then be submitted from May 31, 2021, to July 11, 2021. The applications made in 2021 will be reflected in the 2023 version of the SwissDRG.

The Dutch Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) will accept applications for subsidies under the incentive scheme "eHealth at Home" until the end of 2021. This scheme is intended for digital apps that support the provision of care at home for the elderly and people with chronic illness or disability.

The revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog came into force on April 1, 2021. Two new EBM codes for IVD tests were introduced, and reimbursement conditions for two IVD tests were amended.

On March 31, 2021, NICE published Technology Appraisal Guidance on selective internal radiation therapies (SIRT) for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Technology Appraisal is the only NICE program that has a direct link with the acceptance of technologies by payers. Payers need to implement the recommended technologies within three months after the publication of the guidance. Medical devices are very rarely evaluated within the Technology Appraisal program. SIR-Spheres and TheraSphere were recommended to treat unresectable advanced HCC under certain conditions, while QuiremSpheres was not recommended.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland develops HTAs and clinical guidelines to support decision-making. In the first quarter of 2021, Healthcare Improvement Scotland published assessments of targeted screening for early lung cancer in adults at high risk, gammaCore for cluster headache, and other topics, which mostly concern eHealth technologies.

On April 09, 2021, the Swedish Medical Technologies Product (MTP) Council decided to add more technologies to the ongoing evaluation for self-monitoring of atrial fibrillation within the Orderly introduction framework, initiated in December 2020. MTP Council commissioned the Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) to perform a health-economic evaluation of five products (Coala, KardiaMobile, CardioMem CM 100 XT, PhysioMem PM 100, Zenicor). MTP Council will then make recommendations to the regions on whether to adopt these technologies or not.

In March 2021, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published four new Interventional Procedure Guidance (transcervical ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation for symptomatic uterine fibroids, extracorporeal whole liver perfusion, free-functioning gracilis transfer to restore upper limb function, cytoreduction surgery with hyperthermic intraoperative peritoneal chemotherapy), two Medical Technologies Guidance (Danis stent for acute oesophageal variceal bleeding, Alpha-Stim AID for anxiety disorders), two Medtech Innovation Briefings (Sonata system for symptomatic uterine fibroids, Butterfly iQ+ for diagnostic ultrasound), and one Diagnostic Guidance (QAngio XA 3D QFR and CAAS vFFR imaging software for assessing coronary stenosis). Also, five clinical guidelines were updated.

On March 30, 2020, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland, ZIN) announced five projects which received a subsidy under the "Subsidy scheme for promising care" in 2021: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and in vivo exposure with response prevention in obsessive-compulsive disorder; MRI-guided laser-induced thermotherapy in glioblastoma; personalized treatment with selective internal radiotherapy in elderly or vulnerable colon cancer patients with liver metastases; structured, multidisciplinary and person-centered intensive care aftercare for patients at risk of health problems; Basophil Activation Test in children with possible IgE mediated cow's milk allergy.

In March 2021, 32 NHS trusts received funding through the NHSX Digital Aspirant program, which was initiated in 2020, and already supports 27 NHS trusts for their digital transformation. Seven of the newly added NHS trusts will receive up to £6 million over the next three years, while the remaining 25 are receiving funding of £250,000 to develop their digital strategy and business case.