Diabetes

In December 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in England released four Med Tech-related assessments in its HTA Journal, which concerned cervical ripening during labor induction in different settings, fasciectomy surgery for Dupuytren's contracture in adults, hybrid closed-loop systems in type 1 diabetes, point-of-care tests for urinary tract infections. HTA Journal publishes research reports on the effectiveness, costs, and broader impact of health technologies for those who use, manage, and provide care in the NHS and informs NICE guidance.

In September 2024, the Dutch Healthcare Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland, ZIN) announced two projects that received a subsidy under the "Subsidy scheme for promising care" in 2024 for research on the cost-effectiveness of cold plasma therapy for diabetic foot or venous leg wounds and intranasal mesenchymal stem cells in newborns with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.

Between mid-January 2024 and mid-February 2024, three more health apps were introduced in the Directory of digital health applications (DiGAs) at the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and thus became reimbursable. These apps can be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists and will be reimbursed by health insurers. In total, 56 health apps are currently available in the DiGA Directory, and six health apps were delisted from the Directory.

Between early September 2023 and mid-January 2024, four more health apps were introduced in the Directory of digital health applications (DiGAs) at the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and thus became reimbursable. These apps can be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists and will be reimbursed by health insurers. In total, 53 health apps are currently available in the DiGA Directory, and six health apps were delisted from the Directory.

In December 2023, the Government, Danish Regions, and Municipalities (KL) signed an agreement providing 500 million DKK from 2023 to 2028 to promote the spread of digital treatment services. This will include technologies for home monitoring and targeted control for patients with chronic diseases (such as diabetes, COPD, and heart failure), thus reducing the number of physical check-ups and preventing unnecessary hospitalizations.

On September 27, 2023, the Italian Ministry of Health released a decree with which they adopted the launch of the new national screening program, which will be launched in January 2024. The screening program will screen children for type 1 diabetes and celiac disease.

Between late May and early September 2023, two more health apps were introduced in the Directory of digital health applications (DiGAs) at the Federal Office for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) and thus became reimbursable. These apps can be prescribed by physicians and psychotherapists and will be reimbursed by health insurers. In total, 49 health apps are currently available in the DiGA Directory, and six health apps were delisted from the Directory.

On July 07, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Prevention announced the implementation of the transitional period for innovative technologies following the experiment under Article 51 of the Social Security Financing Act.

The HTA body of the Tuscany Regional Healthcare issues three types of documents: full HTA reports, rapid HTA reports, and motivational forms. With regional decree 13989 of June 29, 2023, Tuscany Regional Healthcare has published assessments of nine medical devices in the cardiovascular, peripheral vascular, diagnostic imaging areas, and surgical procedures.

On July 1, 2023, the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI-RIZIV) updated the conditions of reimbursement for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and intermittently scanned CGM (isCGM, commonly called flash glucose monitoring, FGM). Full coverage by health insurance became available to more patient categories.

In May 2023, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published one new Interventional Procedure Guidance (intramuscular diaphragm stimulation for ventilator-dependent chronic respiratory failure from high spinal cord injuries), two new Diagnostic Guidance (MRI fusion biopsy systems for diagnosing prostate cancer, automated ankle-brachial pressure index measurement devices to detect peripheral arterial disease), and three new Health Technology Evaluations (Digitally enabled therapies for adults with anxiety disorders / with depression, and point-of-care tests for urinary tract infections). Also, four clinical guidelines were updated.

The French National Authority for Health (HAS) released new recommendations about add-on reimbursement of medical devices and medical aids from the meetings of the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) in March 2023. Fifteen recommendations were published in relation to the registration, modification of registration conditions, and renewal of registration for devices in the List of reimbursable products and services (LPPR). Opinions concern cardiovascular and peripheral vascular, endocrine, endoscopy, gastrointestinal, surgical, and diagnostic imaging devices, as well as medical aids.