In-vitro diagnostic tests

On April 20, 2026, the Common Package of Benefits of the Spanish National Health System was amended (by Order SND/356/2026, of April 13, 2026). The key changes relate to diagnostic imaging, in-vitro diagnostics, obstetrics and gynecology, and some other fields.

On April 16, 2026, the French Ministry of Health announced the inclusion of the first in vitro diagnostic medical device under the reformed RIHN 2.0, designed to support innovative diagnostics through temporary reimbursement while evidence is generated. The selected technology is VisioCyt Bladder, an AI-assisted digital urine cytology, indicated for monitoring recurrence in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. This marks a key milestone in the implementation of the updated framework.

On April 8, 2026, NHS England published the 2026/27 National Genomic Test Directory. The key update concerns hematological and neurological cancers, for which separate files were published with a significant restructure: new genomic test (GT) codes were introduced, gathered into new clinically relevant test packages (TP), and mapped to existing M-codes. Furthermore, multiple changes were made in the rare and inherited diseases directory, including the addition of several new codes.

On April 9, 2026, the Spanish Network of HTA Agencies (RedETS) published the 2026 working plan for health technology assessments. The plan includes a wide range of topics in cardiovascular, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, e-health, endocrine, endoscopy, gastrointestinal, ICU/OR, in-vitro diagnostics, neurology and neurosurgery, neuromodulation, ophthalmology, radiology, robotic surgery, and some other fields.

In March 2026, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in England released five Med Tech-related assessments in its HTA Journal, which concerned eye screening programs in diabetes, surgical and non-surgical splint treatment for finger fractures, diagnostic strategies for ovarian cancer, biomarkers for outcomes prediction in adults with suspected sepsis, and diagnostic tools of peripheral arterial disease in diabetes.

In April 2026, the Canary Islands Healthcare Evaluation Service is working on several HTAs, including evaluations in e-health, IVD, neuromodulation, obstetrics and gynecology, and some other fields.

On March 26, 2026, NHS England published the final version of the 2026/27 NHS Payment Scheme, effective from April 1, 2026. While the overall payment model remains largely unchanged, several targeted updates have been introduced. These include new blended payments for urgent and emergency care, radiotherapy, and genomic testing, as well as two new Best Practice Tariffs (BPTs) to incentivize day case procedures and support 10 Year Health Plan referral-to-treatment (RTT) priorities.

As of March 2026, the Scottish Health Technologies Group is working on health technology assessments in several areas, including diagnostic imaging, e-health, endoscopy, ENT, in-vitro diagnostics, and radiotherapy.

On March 23, 2026, the Norwegian Directorate of Health released an updated version (v.79) of the Norwegian Laboratory Code (NLK) system, along with associated tariffs, for both state and private laboratories. A total of 63 new codes were added in the biochemistry, microbiology, clinical pharmacology, and immunology fields.

In March 2026, the Galician Agency for Health Technology Assessment (Avalia-t) is working on several HTAs, including in cardiovascular, dermatology, e-health, gastrointestinal, interventional radiology, robotic surgery, in-vitro diagnostics, peripheral vascular, neurology and neurosurgery, neuromodulation, and some other fields.

In January 2026, the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE) published one Health Technology Assessment report on blood-based biomarkers in mild traumatic brain injury and two Health Service Research (HSR) reports addressing chronic pain management and the shift from inpatient to day and ambulatory care.

In February 2026, Health Technology Wales (HTW) accomplished one full appraisal on capsule sponge devices for the detection of Barrett’s esophagus and early-stage esophageal cancer. Additionally, two Med Tech-related Topic Exploration Reports were published in the urology and gynecology fields.