In 2013, Norway established a framework, "New Method," for the introduction of innovations into the health care system through either a national or hospital-based health technology assessment. In this framework, all innovations should undergo HTA before being funded.
Transurethral microwave therapy (TUMT) for benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment has been evaluated within the "New Methods" framework since 2020 (case ID2020_017). In November 2020, the method assessment phase was completed, and the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) report was published. NIPH summarized key findings from systematic reviews about the difference in the effectiveness of TUMT compared to Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) in benign prostatic hyperplasia. It was concluded that comparisons of TUMT and TURP are ambiguous: some results seem to favor TURP, whereas others prefer TUMT.
On August 30, 2021, Decision Forum for "New Methods" recommended TUMT to be used as an alternative method in benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment.
Organ donation using normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) in patients with severe brain injury and who died of cardiac and respiratory arrest when life-prolonging treatment is discontinued, referred to as "controlled donation after circulatory death (cDCD)" was evaluated within the "New Methods" framework since 2017 (case ID2017_100). In 2019, the method assessment phase was completed, and the NIPH report was published, outlining medical, legal, and ethical issues in organ donation using NRP.
On August 30, 2021, the Decision Forum for "New Methods" recommended the method to be introduced as described in procedures at Oslo University Hospital (provided in Decision Forum protocol).
The procedures must be established to ensure healthcare professionals can use the method according to a standard with the broadest possible professional foundation and with unique criteria for "Death after permanent cardiac and respiratory arrest." The national organ donation service is responsible for coordinating with all the country's donor hospitals to ensure a common understanding of the procedures. An evaluation of implemented changes shall be carried out in two years after implementation, based on register data.
See the full details in Norwegian here.
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