Assobiomedica published a report presenting the status of the ventilation and monitoring equipment installed across the public and private hospitals at 2016. The scenario pictured by the analysis appears to be critical considering the high number of units older than 10 years.

The further-developed tariff structure SwissDRG was approved by the Federal Council in Switzerland. The new tariff version for inpatient services will be effective from January 1st in 2018. The tariff structure SwissDRG defines how inpatient services in the acute care area of the hospitals and birthplaces are reimbursed within the framework of compulsory health care insurance in Switzerland.

A wireless sensor that better detects signs of sepsis in hospital patients, an app to help pregnant women monitor hypertension, and another that directs patients with minor injuries to treatment units with the shortest queues, are among the latest devices and technologies selected to join the NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA).

The Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK) has opened the proposal procedure for integrating the medical and scientific expertise in the further development of the G-DRG system for the year 2019. Proposals, e.g. add-on payments, DRG re-grouping and changes in coding guidelines or cost calculation can be submitted until March 31st, 2018.

NICE recommends new tests to help diagnose asthma and a change in how medicines are offered.

The Dutch National Health Care Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland) published a position paper with results of 4-years observation of transluminal endoscopic step-up approach in patients with infected pancreatic necrosis. In accordance to this document the procedure fulfils the criteria ‘state of science and practice’. The method can be reimbursed within basic health insurance.

As part of its routine method evaluation, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) charged the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) with a benefit assessment of the use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) compared to conventional methods of wound management in the inpatient sector in Germany. Currently, no restrictions exist for the use of NPWT in hospital settings. Based on the new evaluation report, the G-BA will re-assess the reimbursement status in the statutory health insurance.

In the second half of November, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new interventional procedures guidance (for hypoglossal nerve stimulation for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea and processed nerve allografts to repair peripheral nerve discontinuities).

The meeting Improvement of Patient Quality of Life and Access to Innovation: Two Priorities in Medical Device Evaluations was organized by HAS on 24th of November to discuss evaluation principles of medical devices in France with manufacturers. In connection to the meeting new and updated policy documents were released.

The Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre and the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Care innovation have signed an agreement to invest 6 million euros in the pilot project Belgium-Netherlands Funding of International Trials (BeNeFIT) for conduction of comparative, practice-oriented clinical studies which is relevant to patients, caregivers and policymakers in Belgium and the Netherlands.

In the second half of November, French HAS published new set of decisions for add-on reimbursement: four positive decisions for orthopedic medical devices, two negative decisions for coronary stents and two positive decisions for cochlear implant and kit for wheelchair.

The changes of the DBC package for specialist medical care in 2019 (RZ19a) will include pediatric oncology, proton therapy, and telemedicine.