HTA in Germany

The SHI Modernisation Act in 2004 introduced the Joint Committee (G-BA) [1], which is built with representatives from sickness funds, physicians, dentists, hospital providers and patients. The Committee is among other responsible for the shaping of the benefit catalogue of the German SHI. The Joint Committee may commission the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health care (IQWiG [2]) with production of summaries of the evidence regarding the topics under its scrutiny (i.e. benefits of drugs or procedures, guidelines for DMP, etc). IQWiG cooperates with academic institutions for the production of its reports. Our Department has been an academic partner since the inception of IQWiG.
We have worked in the following topics within this partnership:

• Volume of operations and the quality of outcome for elective surgery of abdominal aorta aneurysma repair [Menge der erbrachten Leistungen und Ergebnisqualität für die Indikation „Elektiver Eingriff Bauchaortenaneurysma" [3]]
• Volume of operations and the quality of outcome for PTCA [Menge der erbrachten Leistungen und Ergebnisqualität für die PTCA [4]]
• Systematic guideline search and appraisal for the DMP „CHD“ [Leitlinienrecherche und -bewertung für das DMP KHK] [5]
• Ginkgo compounds in Alzheimer’s Disease [Ginkgohaltige Präparate bei Alzheimer Demenz [6]]

The German Agency for Health Technology Assessment [7] (DAHTA@DIMDI) – which is an institution under the direct oversight of the Federal Ministry of Health – commissions HTA reports to academic institutes. The topics for these HTA reports are selected in a systematic priority setting process.Our Department has lead the production of several HTA reports within this partnership:

• The use of Excimer Laser in refractive surgery [Die Verwendung des Excimer Lasers in der refraktiven Augenchirurgie [8]]
• Thin layer technology and computer based cervical citology [Dünnschichtpräparationen und computergestützte Untersuchungen von Zervixabstrichen - Medizinische Effektivität, gesundheitsökonomische Evaluation und systematische Entscheidungsanalyse [9]]
• Positron-Emission-Tomography: Systematic Reviews on selected indications [Positronen-Emissions-Tomographie systematische Übersichten zur Wirksamkeit bei ausgewählten Indikationen [10]]
• Bone and bone substitutes for periodontal and for bone reconstruction before implantation –[Knochen- und Knochenersatzmaterialien zur parodontalen Regeneration und zum Knochenaufbau für Implantate - Eine systematische Bewertung der medizinischen Wirksamkeit [11]]
• Screening for Chlamydia trachomatis [Sreening auf urogenitale Chlamydia trachomatis-Infektionen [12]]
• Methods for comparative drug assessment [Methoden zur vergleichenden Bewertung pharmazeutischer Produkte [13]]
• Mistletoe for reducing toxicity of chemotherapy in oncology [Misteltherapie als begleitende Behandlung zur Reduktion der Toxizität der Chemotherapie maligner Erkrankungen [14]]
• Ventricular assist devices for advanced chronic heart failure [Künstliche Ventrikel bei fortgeschrittener Herzinsuffizienz [15]]
• Interferons and Natlizumab for the treatment of multiple sclerosis [Interferone und Natalizumab in der Behandlung der multiplen Sklerose (MS) [16]]
• Surrogate Outcomes in HTA – in Press

Several fellows of our staff are active members of the German Association for the Promotion of HTA [17], which has edited the first German Handbook on HTA [18] and has initiated the first German speaking e-learning course on HTA [19], hosted and organized by our Department.

For more information:

Research Field Health Technology Assessment [24]

International Development of HTA [25]