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The Importance of Uncertainty Assessment Health Economic Evaluations (HEEs) play a crucial role in reimbursement decisions, particularly in the realm of healthcare technologies. However, these evaluations are often fraught with uncertainty, posing significant challenges to decision-makers. The assessment of uncertainty is a cornerstone of these evaluations, helping to gauge the robustness of results and the potential consequences of uncertainty related to decisions. Yet, there is currently no comprehensive overview of the methods used for uncertainty assessment in HEEs. Exploring the […]

Introducing AI in Cardiovascular Imaging Innovation has always been possible in cardiovascular imaging. The latest game-changer? Artificial Intelligence (AI). Traditional AI used rules-based algorithms, called symbolic or classical AI. AI’s popularity has grown due to machine learning, especially deep learning. Machine learning algorithms use data patterns and inference to learn without programming. A subtype of machine learning, deep learning uses deep artificial neural networks inspired by the human nervous system. Cardiovascular Imaging Deep Learning Deep learning has been applied to […]

The Medicine Accessibility Challenge High-income countries are increasingly struggling to afford medicines. New and established drugs are often too expensive and scarce. Gene and cell therapies, cancer pharmaceuticals, and orphan drugs are expensive and burden individuals and health systems. Broken Pharma Systems Pharmaceutical system fragmentation, especially in Europe, limits equal medicine availability. The outpatient and hospital sectors frequently have separate public bodies for medicine reimbursement and procurement. This distinction can cause differences in inpatient and outpatient medicine, which can have […]

The Regulatory Hurdle Europe’s healthcare system, known for its extensive social security and fair healthcare access, faces a test of strength. Structural barriers in the existing regulatory framework hinder the prompt distribution of vital medical technologies. These technologies are crucial at every patient care stage. The In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Regulation (IVDR) and Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) were designed with the objective of creating a robust, transparent, predictable, and sustainable regulatory system for medical devices. The expectation was that […]

The Rising Cost of Medical Interventions Novel medical interventions have emerged from scientific advancements, offering better quality and extended life for patients with life-threatening conditions. These interventions include gene therapies and tissue-engineered medicines that target various cancers, rare, and ultra-rare diseases. However, the medicines come with an extremely high cost. In 2022, the top ten most expensive medicines ranged from USD 600,000 to over USD 3.5 million per dose. This high cost puts a significant financial burden on households. Consequently, […]

Introduction The European Union stands at the threshold of significant change with its proposed EU pharmaceutical legislation. This initiative, born from the challenges experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, aims to revitalize the EU’s approach to healthcare, ensuring it’s better prepared for future crises and more responsive to the needs of its citizens. Panelists that spoke on the proposed EU Pharmaceutical legislation included: Gloria Ghequiere, Belgium Federal Government, Brussels, Belgium Neil Grubert, Independent, Basildon, United Kingdom Denis Lacombe, European Organisation for […]

The Rising Challenge of Telehealth and CGM Technology in Diabetes Management As we celebrate World Diabetes Day, we must acknowledge the growing burden of diabetes care. With 37.3 million people in the United States diagnosed with diabetes, the healthcare industry faces a tremendous issue. The number of endocrinologists, or diabetes specialists, is frighteningly low, with a patient-to-endocrinologist ratio of 1:4375. Because of this imbalance, the majority of diabetes care is now provided in primary care settings. However, resources and expertise […]

Embracing the Potential and Challenges of Virtual Wards The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recently recommended the exploration of virtual wards in healthcare. Virtual care is not a new concept. Recent health crises, like the COVID-19 pandemic, have propelled it into the spotlight. Virtual care, including telehealth and remote patient monitoring, has shown great promise in improving access to care, especially for those in remote or underserved areas. For example, early warning scores, such as NEWS2 […]

The European Health Data Space (EHDS) represents a groundbreaking initiative by the European Commission, poised to advance healthcare data management across the EU. As discussed in the recent ISPOR Europe conference panel, the EHDS is much more than a tool for pharmacovigilance and retrospective cohort studies. It’s a comprehensive framework designed to empower EU citizens with equitable access to healthcare data while ensuring data privacy and fostering participation in intellectual property creation. The EHDS is set to enhance the digitalization […]

The Current State of Health Technology Assessment Health technology assessment (HTA) in medical device procurement has been instrumental in determining the value of medical devices. However, the unique characteristics of these devices, including frequent iterations and user learning curves, make generalising outcomes challenging. Furthermore, the diverse needs of stakeholders often result in varying views on a technology’s value. Despite the wealth of information available on HTA, a knowledge gap exists regarding its use by non-payer, non-HTA stakeholders in their assessment […]

The Importance of Documenting Side Effects The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) is advocating for the usage of the MedSafety app as a means of bolstering efforts to ensure the integrity of medicinal products. #MedSafetyWeek is a global campaign that aims to improve the safety of medications all around the world, and this project is a component of that campaign. The campaign, involving more than 80 regulatory agencies, is a testament to the collective effort to better the […]

The Rising Challenge of Hypertension Hypertension management, a significant risk factor for cardiovascular and kidney diseases, is a leading cause of preventable death and disability globally. With more than 100 million people affected in the US alone, the healthcare costs associated with hypertension surpassed $130 billion between 2003 and 2014. Despite the availability of affordable medications and lifestyle interventions, blood pressure control rates continue to decline. Pharmacist Interventions: A New Approach to Hypertension Management Recent research suggests an innovative solution: […]

Understanding the Importance and Scope of HEOR in Today’s Healthcare Landscape The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) is a global non-profit organisation. It promotes the use of health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) in medical care decision-making. Recently, CEO Rob Abbott discussed the organisation’s objective, the importance of HEOR, and the future of healthcare.  ISPOR’s membership is comprised of individuals from academia, industry, patient groups, and payers. These individuals come from 110 different countries. This organisation’s […]

Understanding Respiratory Tract Infections (RTIs) RTIs are some of the most common illnesses, causing a significant number of outbreaks annually. Viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are often the culprits. These RTIs lead to a surge in hospital admissions during winter months, and their symptoms can be very similar, making it challenging to differentiate between them. Multiplex Antigen Near-Patient Tests Laboratories typically conduct the gold standard for these tests, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). On […]

A Groundbreaking Study A recent Nordic research study has shed light on the potential increased risk of stillbirth among pregnant women infected with COVID-19. This comprehensive study, the largest of its kind, analysed data from 389,949 births across Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The findings revealed a 2.4 times higher risk of stillbirth among women who contracted COVID-19 during pregnancy. Understanding the Risks While stillbirth remains a rare occurrence, the study found that the absolute risk was 2.3 per 100,000 follow-up […]

A Landmark Achievement in Healthcare The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has declared Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, a component of the M42 network, as a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Adult Cardiac Surgery (ACS). This significant announcement is a testament to Abu Dhabi’s commitment to delivering world-class healthcare services to its community and reinforces its standing as a leading healthcare destination. Centre of Excellence for Adult Cardiac Surgery: A New Standard in Cardiac Care As an ACS CoE, […]