The European Commission unveiled plans for a pan-EU Health Technology Assessment (HTA) law on Wednesday (31 January), with EU health chief Vytenis Andriukaitis promising that they would help patients take advantage of “an exciting era for innovation in health”.

The proposed regulation covers new medicines and medical devices, providing the basis for pan-EU cooperation on joint clinical assessments. It aims to establish common methodologies and procedures across the EU on joint clinical assessments, focusing on the most innovative health technologies with the most potential impact for patients.

It will also establish joint scientific consultations, and focus on identifying emerging health technologies.

An ageing population and a parallel rise in chronic diseases across the 28 EU countries, along with a rapid increase in innovative medicines, medical devices and diagnostic tools, have put healthcare systems under increasing pressure.

“There will be no additional burden for the med-tech industry (from the proposal),” the EU health Commissioner vowed.

ollowing concerns from some capitals that the EU executive would attempt a ‘power grab’, the Commission draft proposes that national governments will continue to be responsible for assessing all the economic, social, and ethical aspects of health technology, and for making decisions on pricing and reimbursement.

Germany is believed to be among a group of governments which strongly oppose an uptake of full HTA reports. The Netherlands, meanwhile, is part of a group backing more EU-wide coordination on pharmaceutical access and pricing.

The draft bill was given a cautious welcome by health and consumer organisations.

“It will save time and money to assess the same drug or surgery once at EU level rather than several times at national level. Also, it will put all consumers on an equal footing, as countries without such resources would benefit from EU-wide clinical assessments,” said Monique Goyens, director general of the pan-EU consumer group BEUC.

“The EPHA favours European collaboration in Health Technology Assessment. However, we – together with the Member States – will be watching out for any push to converge towards a lowest common denominator HTA and any compromise in the integrity of HTA bodies,” a spokesman for the European Public Health Association told EURACTIV.com.

“A European approach must improve on the current system and deliver meaningful innovation and affordable treatments. There must not be the slightest doubt that cooperation would weaken it or make the assessments less rigorous,” he added.