Dutch Healthcare Institute (ZIN) has issued a Pilot Horizon Scan of 39 new diabetes-related MedTech products that are expected on the Dutch market in 2022 or 2023. Patients with diabetes could benefit significantly from the use of these devices. However, available data on their effectiveness and efficiency is limited.

On January 20, 2022, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has initiated an evaluation procedure for early benefit assessment for the use of a stent retriever (pRELAX by femtos) to treat vasospasm of cerebral arteries after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The French Ministry of Solidarity and Health constantly announces the new experiments initiated under Article 51 of the Social Security Financing Act. These experiments are focused on various topics concerning medical technologies and the organization of care. At the beginning of January 2022, new experiments were announced which relate to geriatric care, autonomy loss prevention, physical rehabilitation during and after cancer treatment.

On January 18, 2022, NHS England and Improvement released guidance on point-of-care testing (POCT) in community pharmacies. It describes the consistent standards and safe environment for the use of POCT equipment and devices for diagnosis, monitoring, and screening in community pharmacy, to guide both commissioners of NHS services and community pharmacies.

The "New Method" is currently developing criteria for which methods other than drugs shall be prioritized for assessment within the framework at the national or local levels. On January 17, 2022, the project status was presented at the Ordering Forum for "New Method." It was reported that the project would require more resources and time than initially thought.

At the beginning of January 2022, the INAMI published a convention for 2022-2023 related to the financing of dialysis. The convention regulates the modalities of reimbursement for dialysis of patients with chronic renal failure.

On January 20, 2022, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) launched a consultation on the latest set of guidance (List 3) of the Evidence-based Interventions (EBI) Programme. EBI program develops guidance sets (Lists) for tests, treatments, and procedures based on recommendations from the Expert Advisory Committee and NICE assessments. Proposed List 3 covers 17 interventions across a range of medical specialties, including cardiology, ophthalmology, urology, and others. The deadline for comments submission is March 31, 2022.

On December 26, 2021, the new health app was introduced in the Directory of digital health applications (DiGAs) at the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and thus became reimbursable. These apps can be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists and will be reimbursed by health insurers. In total, 28 health apps are now available at the DiGA Directory.

On December 17, 2021, the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Center (KCE) published a health services research report “Evidence gaps for drugs and medical devices at market entry in Europe and potential solutions”. In this report, KCE examined the lack of comparative evidence health technology assessment (HTA) agencies and payers face in evaluating new medicinal products and high-risk medical devices at market entry.

On January 14, 2022, the Government of the Russian Federation released a Decree which approved the inclusion of three devices (implantable pulse generator for urinary/fecal incontinence, bioprosthetic aortic valve/xenoprosthesis, and vessels embolization material) in the List of Essential Implantable Medical Devices.

In December 2021, the Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) working group, which develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclatures for private payers in England, published Bulletins 0181 and 0078 with changes to be implemented no later than February 01, 2022. Seven new procedure codes and four new diagnostic codes were introduced.

In spring 2022, a new reimbursement system for remote consultations will be launched with new reimbursement codes and conditions.