The corresponding decision by the (the Federal Joint Committee) of January 16, 2020, was published in the Federal Gazette and came into force on April 9, 2020.

On April 1, 2020, Minister of Health, Welfare, and Sport decided to secure a total of €42 million for studying the most urgent corona-related issues. It is estimated that these additional funds will enable 80 - 100 evaluations to be carried out. The Dutch Research Council (NWO) and the Dutch Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMW) will work together on the research programs.

NHSX provides funding through 'Techforce 19' to innovators who can find digital ways to benefit those in need of help, including those in need of mental health support and social care. The technology is intended to help people who might be most impacted by the long term effects of remaining housebound during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On April 27, 2020, the Italian Ministry of Health shared the invitation of the Italian “Alliance against cancer,” which is intended for all the interested companies that wish to participate in the CAR-T research project.

In March-April, MTRC introduced a number of changes in the educational seminars on reimbursement systems in the Czech Republic and England and released additional modules about reimbursement of in-vitro diagnostic tests in Russia and Turkey.

MTRC continues releasing new seminars on the topics on market access. The seminar discusses key stakeholders, money flow, reimbursement in ambulatory settings for IVD tests, national and regional Benefit Catalogs and the role of HTA for market access of IVD tests.

MTRC has summarized the most important DRG changes in Sweden, which came in force in 2020. This includes five new DRGs and other changes in a grouping logic.

Since January 1, 2020, the nursing staff costs of the hospitals are excluded from the DRG case flat rates and financed in parallel to the DRG case flat rates using a hospital-specific care budget based on the principle of cost coverage.

MTRC has summarized the most important DRG changes in Norway, which came in force in 2020. This includes five new DRGs, one deleted DRG, changes in the titles of four DRGs and other changes.

In April 2020, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published only one new medical technologies guidance (for PneuX to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia) and two Medtech innovation briefings (for Lifelight First for monitoring vital signs and myCOPD for self-management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

The revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog came into force on April 1, 2020. MTRC has compiled the selection of the most significant changes.

On March 30, 2020, the Danish National Board of Health updated the national clinical guideline on the assessment and treatment of urinary incontinence in women. It is recommended to choose retropubic mid-urethral sling operation for women with involuntary urination who need surgical treatment. It is also provided new data on the effectiveness of supervised pelvic floor training