On May 10, 2021, NHS Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (AI Lab) announced an open call to test AI-driven COVID-19 models using the National COVID-19 Chest Imaging Database (NCCID), collected over 40,000 X-rays, CT, and MRI images from people with and without coronavirus. The NHS AI Lab is now inviting research institutions and technology companies that develop AI-driven models using COVID-19 chest imaging data. The deadline for applications is May 28, 2021.

The Treatment Council (Behandlingsråd) is a new model for assessing treatment methods and health technologies, expected to become fully operational during 2021. On May 4, 2021, the first meeting of the Treatment Council was conducted. Also, the Treatment Council's Secretariat invites all the interested healthcare stakeholders to attend open online information meetings.

In late April 2021, the European Network for Health Technology Assessment, EUnetHTA, in partnership with the Austrian Institute for HTA (AIHTA), released a final report on the comparative effectiveness of surgical techniques and devices for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Twenty-one minimally invasive surgical treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia were compared. Newer technologies may offer some advantage over transurethral resection of the prostate by reducing the transfusion requirement.

At the beginning of April 2021, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation released the final report on key results of 2020 and main targets for 2021. One of the key achievements is the increased number of medical organizations licensed to conduct high-end medical care (reached 629, including 141 federal centers).

The Agency for Health Technology Assessment of Andalusia Autonomous Community in Spain (AETSA) systematically evaluates healthcare technologies and provides decision-makers with critically review information about their efficacy, safety, and effectiveness. Currently, the AETSA is working on assessments of laser-induced heat therapy in epilepsy surgery, stereotactic radiation therapy for the treatment of refractory ventricular tachycardia, implantable Holter monitor with ILink Online technology for prolonged cardiac monitoring, and other topics.

In late April and early May 2021, three more health apps were 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, fifteen health apps are now available at the DiGA Directory.

The HTA body of the Tuscany Regional Healthcare issues two types of documents: HTA forms and motivational forms. With a regional decree 6462 of April 21, 2021, Tuscany Regional Healthcare has published assessments of six medical devices of various therapeutic areas, including devices for the treatment of vaginal prolapse, cardiovascular conditions, an implant for vocal cord rehabilitation, and a cerebral embolic protective device.

The Dutch Healthcare Institute (ZIN) is currently evaluating the implementation of the position on Flash Glucose Monitoring (FGM) published in 2019. The publication of the results of the first interim assessment is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2021.

The Treatment Council (Behandlingsråd) is a new model for assessing treatment methods and health technologies, expected to become fully operational during 2021. The first meeting of the Treatment Council is planned to be conducted in May 2021. On April 15, 2021, the method and process frameworks of the Treatment Council (Behandlingsråd) were sent for consultation to the parties who have previously submitted consultation responses regarding these documents.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI/TAVR) in severe aortic stenosis treatment across all surgical risk groups was being evaluated within the "New Methods" framework since 2019. On April 26, 2021, the Decision Forum for "New Methods" made a positive coverage decision for TAVI/TAVR to treat patients with severe aortic stenosis across all surgical risk groups.

In April 2021, the Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) working group, which develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England, has published Bulletins 0176 and 0073 with changes to be implemented not later than August 01, 2021. Four new procedure codes related to men's health and breast surgery and one new companion diagnostic code were introduced.