Norway established in 2013 a framework for the introduction of innovations into the health care system through either a national or hospital-based health technology assessment. This framework is called the “New Method.”
In this framework, all innovations should undergo HTA before being funded. If the method concerns only one or two hospitals, the assessment shall be initiated by clinicians and ran at the hospital level. The final report is disseminated via a mini-HTA database. If the method is of national concern, it undergoes Single Technology Appraisal at the national level, followed by the funding decision by the group of payers (Decision Forum, Beslutningsforum).
At the end of January 2020, a completed mini-method assessment for the Localizer™ wire-free guidance system that designed to mark and guide to non-palpable breast lesions was released. The following conclusions were provided:
- The good level of efficacy was shown by the studied method in comparison with the marking of the lesion using a metal wire protruding from the skin
- The method was determined as safe
- The method should be introduced as part of the clinical routine in the hospital
See the full details in Norwegian here.
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