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News and blog posts

20
Mar 2025

Sustainability Publication Digest: Estimating the Carbon Footprint of Healthcare in the Canton of Geneva and Reduction Scenarios for 2030 and 2040

MTRC shares the most relevant and impactful publications in the field of market access and HEOR for medical technologies in Europe through its Sustainability Publications Digest. In a recent publication, Mermillod et al. estimated the carbon footprint of the Geneva healthcare system. The study identifies key emission contributors, highlighting medicines and medical devices as the dominant global emission sources (59%). When excluding these, hospitals emerge as the primary source of emissions (48%), followed by nursing homes and private practices. The authors outlined direct and systemic strategies for reduction, including optimizing prescription practices, energy use, and transportation. The findings provide a foundation for policymakers to implement ambitious carbon reduction policies in healthcare.
20
Mar 2025

Nordic cooperation for sustainable procurement of medical equipment

In late January 2025, the Nordic Initiative for Environmental Labelling of Medical Supplies (NIELS) project was completed. The initiative was aimed to promote greener procurement of medical equipment by expanding the use of eco-labeling. Following its successful conclusion, the project is now considering opportunities to broaden the dialogue to a European level.
19
Mar 2025

Health Economic Publication Digest: Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards for Interventions That Use Artificial Intelligence (CHEERS-AI)

MTRC shares the most relevant and impactful publications in the field of market access and HEOR for medical technologies in Europe through its Health Economic Publications Digest. In a recent publication, Elvidge et al. introduced the CHEERS-AI checklist, a standardized reporting framework for economic evaluations of AI-based health interventions. Developed through a Delphi study with multidisciplinary experts, the checklist comprises 38 reporting items, including AI-specific considerations. By improving transparency and reproducibility, CHEERS-AI aims to enhance the quality of cost-effectiveness assessments and facilitate informed decision-making in AI-driven healthcare.
18
Mar 2025

Publication Digest: A systematic literature review of real-world evidence (RWE) on post-market assessment of medical devices

MTRC shares the most relevant and impactful publications in the field of market access and HEOR for medical technologies in Europe through its Publications Digest. In a recent publication, Manetti et al. conducted a systematic literature review to assess how real-world evidence (RWE) and real-world data are utilized in post-market evaluations of medical devices. The authors analyzed 145 research articles and found that most assessments relied on administrative databases, with economic and clinical evidence being the most reported outcomes. The findings underscored gaps in incorporating patient perspectives and organizational impact, providing valuable insights for policymakers and researchers in shaping future RWE frameworks for medical devices.
17
Mar 2025

EU HTA Publication Digest: Managing experts' conflicts of interest in the EU Joint Clinical Assessment

MTRC shares the most relevant and impactful publications in the field of market access and HEOR for medical technologies in Europe through its EU HTA Publications Digest. In a recent publication, Gentilini et al. critically examined the European Commission’s 2024 Implementing Regulation on conflict-of-interest management in the EU Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA). A review of national HTA policies showed that the new conflict-of-interest management approach is largely modeled after French HTA guidelines. The authors identified concerns related to expert representativeness, disclosure clarity, and enforcement challenges. These findings highlighted the need for greater transparency and resource allocation to ensure an impartial assessment process.
17
Mar 2025

Governmental plans announced to abolish the NHS England

On March 13, 2025, a major organizational reform was announced by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). It is planned to abolish the NHS England and reintegrate its functions into the DHSC. The initiative aims to reduce bureaucracy, eliminate duplication between the two bodies, improve efficiency, and cut costs. The transition is expected to be completed within the next two years.
14
Mar 2025

Value-Based Procurement Publication Digest: Integrated procurement and reprocessing planning for reusable medical devices with a limited shelf life

MTRC shares the most relevant and impactful publications in the field of market access and HEOR for medical technologies in Europe through its Value-Based Publications Digest. In a recent publication, Rickers et al. introduced a new optimization model for the multiproduct dynamic order quantity problem, aiming to enhance procurement decisions for reusable medical devices. The model integrates product returns and reprocessing parameters and considers the limited shelf life of sterile devices and capacity constraints in sterilization and reprocessing resources. Numerical simulations demonstrated significant cost reductions compared to conventional first-come-first-served approaches, highlighting the practical advantages of integrated procurement planning.
13
Mar 2025

Sustainability Publication Digest: A systematic review of sustainability practices in plastic surgery

MTRC shares the most relevant and impactful publications in the field of market access and HEOR for medical technologies in Europe through its Sustainability Publications Digest. In a recent publication, Iakovou et al. conducted a systematic review evaluating sustainability initiatives in plastic surgery, analyzing data on carbon emissions, waste management, and procedural costs. Based on data from 15 studies, hand surgery emerged as the leading subspecialty driving sustainability practices, complemented by notable efforts in craniofacial, skin cancer, and breast surgery. Notably, effective recycling programs redirected an average of 39.6 tonnes of waste per month, and the average carbon footprint was calculated as 22.7 kgCO2-eq per procedure.