Assessments were directed by national HTA body AGENAS. They cover renal denervation for hypertension, next generation sequencing in oncology, robotic surgery, sling operation for urinary incontinence and vertebral disc replacement.

An assessment was initiated earlier this year on the request from Dutch Hypertension Society and umbrella organization of 9 health insurance companies Zorgverzekeraars Nederland. The Institute will evaluate compliance of baroreflex activation therapy (BAT) for treatment of resistant hypertension with the state of science and practice.

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development Group develops and maintains procedural and diagnostics nomenclature for private payers in England. Several codes were added to both procedural and diagnostic Schedules, including procedures on spine and endoscopy procedure.

The deadline for acceptance of applications for conditional reimbursement in 2019 by the Care Institute Netherlands (Zorginstituut Nederland) is 29th of June 2017. Conditional reimbursement for the period of up to 4 years can be available for promising technologies, which did not meet criteria for “state of science and practice” in the assessments of Zorginstituut Nederland.

In first two weeks of June National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published two Medtech Innovation Briefings (Neo Pedicle Screw System for spinal fusion surgery and device for securing cerebrospinal fluid drainage catheters) and updated two clinical guidelines for head injury and spondyloarthritis in adults.

In May 2017, CNEDiMTS at the National Authority for Health (HAS) issued positive assessment of Urolift for add-on reimbursement via LPPR list. Added value was found to be minor in comparison with transurethral resection of prostate (TURP). This assessment provides better results compared to the earlier one in January 2017. Add-on reimbursement might be established within about one year period.

NHS England has announced expansion of the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme to cover another 25% of the population (Wave 2) in addition to the program, which has already covered about 50% of the population (Wave 1) and which was started last year. NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is the program in England, which connects existing elements of health care system focused on prevention of diabetes and additional element of behavioral intervention for nondiabetic hyperglycaemia into a comprehensive program aimed on prevention of diabetes type II.

In March 2017, G-BA approved two additional indications for application of PET/CT for management of neck and head tumors in hospital settings after reevaluation of evidence by IQWiG in 2016. New indications concern decision making about need for neck dissection and laryngoscopic biopsy.

For 19 of the surgical procedures in which laparoscopic techniques are more common, such approach is used in less than 4 out of 10 cases. Differences in levels of use emerged between Northern, Central, and Southern Regions in which the laparoscopic procedures were used less often.

NCP is a program of centralized procurement of commonly used simple devices in the NHS in England. NHS Supply Chain makes procurement on behalf of all trusts and makes limited number of products available in its catalogue for order by individual trusts. The first products for centralized contracting in 2017 are couch rolls and blunt-fill syringes.

Recently the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWIG) published final report of evaluation extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with heel pain. On 31st of May, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) requested manufacturers for notification of their devices for extracorporeal shock wave therapy before final decision will be given.