In the second two weeks of July, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published one new (FebriDx for C-reactive protein and Myxovirus resistance protein A testing in primary care) and 3 updated Medtech Innovation Briefings, new Diagnostics Guidance for quantitative faecal immunochemical tests to guide referral for colorectal cancer in primary care and three new Interventional Procedures Guidance for laparoscopic insertion of a magnetic titanium ring for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, transcatheter aortic valve implantation for aortic stenosis and hysteroscopic sterilisation by insertion of intrafallopian implants.

European Network for health technology assessment (EUnetHTA) is initiating a project on assessment of screening of fetal aneuploidies (trisomy 13, 18 and 21) using non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) in collaboration with Galician Agency for Health Technology Assessment (AVALIA-T) and Italian HTA agency Regione Emilia-Romagna. Completion of the project is planned to be on 30th of January, 2018 and aimed to evaluate effectiveness and safety of prenatal screening with NIPT, and also to assess organizational, ethical, legal issues and patient outcomes associated with this procedure.

In the first half of 2017, Galician Agency for Health Technology Assessment (AVALIA-T) published 4 HTAs for medical technologies and procedures including Impella ventricular assist device in cardiogenic shock, microwave ablation for tumors of the liver, microsurgery in limb lymphedema and intravitreal injections. Read high-level conclusions from these assessments.

In the Netherlands, there is a possibility to test novel ways of delivering health care services (e.g. mobile diagnostic modules, online counselling, telemonitoring, screening/diagnostic for some complex conditions in primary care etc.) by establishing short (3 years) experiments between health provider and insurance company. After completion of experiment, analysis shall be performed about effect of the intervention. If it works, a new model can be population as novel type of care service in broader settings. See full list of ongoing small-scale experiment projects, extracted by MTRC.

The package will allow small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop and test new technologies in the NHS. This could include innovations such as digital technologies to help patients manage their conditions from home instead of a hospital, or to develop new medicines. Access to this funding will also speed up the time it takes to get new technologies from the lab to patients in the NHS.

The National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) reviewed indications for number of devices on the LPPR list and made recommendations about structure of the section in the LPPR list.

Article “Cost-utility analysis of bariatric surgery compared with conventional medical management in Germany: a decision analytic modeling” was published in the BMC Surgery. Surgery was found cost-effective at 10-year time horizon and cost saving over life time of operated cohort. Delay in provision of surgery led to reduction of gained health benefits.

Changes will be made in eleven chapters of Nomenclature. In relation to medical technologies and in-vitro diagnostics, the most important changes include changes in conditions for Stomatology, Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine codes, introduction of new codes for IVD tests, including diagnostics of tuberculosis and screening for EGFR mutation.

The Ludwig Boltzmann Institute – Health Technology Assessment (LBI-HTA) has published report with results of systematic literature review of application extracorporeal cytokine adsorption therapy (ECAT) for treatment and prevention of sepsis or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Considered evidence was assessed as insufficient to prove that ECAT is effective and safe procedure in patients with sepsis, septic shock and SIRS. Therefore, ECAT is currently not recommended for inclusion into the benefit catalogue.

In total, 10 organizations were added to the list of 42 organizations, which can perform translation of organs. In addition, list of organizations, which perform extraction of organs for transplantation, was also updated.

French National Authority for Health (HAS) released new decisions about add-on and medical aid reimbursement of 10 medical devices from the meetings of the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS). They include microprocessor controlled knee prosthesis, transcatheter pulmonary valve, deep brain stimulation device, kit for self-monitoring of blood glucose and others.

The List determines devices (generic lines), which can be procured for provision of care within Program of State Guarantees in Health Care. Number of surgical implants, orthopedic implants, hemostatic materials, glue for surgical wounds, connector for spine drain, penile prosthesis, plates for facial surgery, surgical mesh, peritoneal catheter were added to the List.