Within the Work Package 4 of EUnetHTA Joint Action 3, femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) is currently under assessment by a team led by Emilia Romagna Region.

In the second half of February, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new interventional procedures guidance (unilateral MRI-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy for moderate to severe tremor in Parkinson’s disease and supraciliary microstent insertion with phacoemulsification for primary open-angle glaucoma) and one Medical technologies guidance for transanal irrigation system for managing bowel dysfunction.

The Italian Ministry of Health published a report presenting the expenditure on medical devices for the national healthcare system at 2016. On a total healthcare expenditure for goods and services of 17.6 billion of Euros, 5.8 billion (33%) are related to medical devices.

This report calls for new approaches to scalling tried and tested health care innovations. It highlights the need to create the right conditions to spread this successfully across the NHS.

The Danish National Board of Health has decided to resubmit the pool for the development of National Clinical Guidelines in 2018, so that more professional companies and healthcare environments could have the opportunity to develop clinical guidelines.

In the first half of February, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published two new Medtech innovation briefings for a compression bandage for venous leg ulcers and insertable cardiac monitor for detecting suspected asymptomatic atrial fibrillation after cryptogenic stroke, one new interventional procedures guidance (aortic valve reconstruction with a new valve made from chemically treated cow pericardium) and one Medical technologies guidance for Memokath-051 stent for ureteric obstruction.

The Danish National Board of Health has published a revised recommendation for how reception and status monitoring should be carried out on major x-ray devices for teeth examinations. The recommendation elaborates on previous requirements and contains suggestions for new measurement methods.

In March 2013, the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds requested a benefit assessment of surgical lung volume reduction in severe pulmonary emphysema. The Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) decided on February 15th 2018 that the method will remain a benefit in the inpatient sector in Germany. The was supported by a health technology assessment provided by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).

The method was under assessment by the Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) previously but the assessment was paused due to insufficient evidence in 2008. The final decision will concern the reimbursement of the method in the outpatient sector. The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) is mandated to provide a health technology assessment (HTA) report to support G-BA’s decision.

The deadline for acceptance of applications for conditional reimbursement in 2020 was announced by the is Zorginstituut Nederland, which is 15th of May 2018.

KCE performed health technology assessment of 3D high-risk printed medical devices. It provides description of evidence concerning efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of the 3D printed medical devices as well as legal issues (requirements to enter to the market, liability, data protection, patient’s rights, traceability, reimbursement, intellectual property rights).

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development Group develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. In January new codes for Anti C1Q antibodies, soluble CD25, umbilical Cord Ph Level and several genetic tests were added to the CCSD Schedule.