BCG published an overview of the study, including survey and interview of several thousand med tech professionals and executives. Among recommendations of the new study are focus on value-based health care, digitalization and low-cost products and services. The study strengthens the importance of market access for Med Tech companies.

In second two weeks of May, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published two Medtech Innovation Briefings (collagen paste for anal fistulae and portable pulse‑echo ultrasound device to assist diagnosis of osteoporosis) one Interventional Procedure Guidance for endoscopic full thickness removal of non-lifting colonic polyps.

MTRC has developed a comprehensive introductory course in European market access. Course has duration between few hours and one day and takes place on your site. Topics include payment mechanisms, reimbursement pathways, role of HTA, economic argumentation and others. The cost is 5,000 euros irrespective of number of participants and duration of the course.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s Scientific Advice service is launching an online tool to help developers of medical devices and diagnostics understand and generate the evidence needed to show their products are clinically and cost effective. This will help companies prepare for a dialogue with health technology assessment organisations and payers and potentially speed up time to market.

Although the report excluded medical technologies from scope, it includes useful information about the concept of innovative payment schemes, taxonomy, challenges of such approaches and provides an overview of international experience.

French National Authority for Health (HAS) released new decisions about add-on and medical aid reimbursement of 9 medical devices from the meetings of the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) in May and April. Among others decision included MRI compatible and recharge free spinal cord stimulation devices, resorbable plates for osteosynthesis.

The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWIG) published final report of evaluation of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with heel. Results demonstrated benefit of the extracorporeal treatment in comparison with placebo, ultrasound and iontophoresis.

AETSA aimed to establish recommendations for clinical practice on hip arthroplasty in patients with osteoarthritis through a systematic appraisal of evidence. High-level recommendations for hip arthroplasty and selection of type of implants were made.

An updated form for notification of medical technology to Italian national health technology assessment program has been released in May. Any stakeholder, including industry, can make notification, which will be reviewed and prioritize every six months.

Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services (SBU) is working on three health technology assessment projects, related to medical technologies and in-vitro diagnostics, including diagnostics of prostate cancer, diagnostics of endometriosis and surgery for arm fractures in elderly.

The National Board (Socialstyrelsen) has developed a new national guideline for the treatment of stroke with a significant focus on mechanical thrombectomy. MTRC provides an overview of key recommendations, which concern diagnosis and treatment phase using medical technologies.

In 2016, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) commissioned the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) to perform evaluation of controlled active motion (CAM) in patients with rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. The final report of assessment was published on May of 2017. No definite conclusion can be made in relation to comparative efficacy and safety of studied technologies due to lack of evidence.