Non-Drug Interventions: department tasks

The department mainly assesses medical interventions that do not depend solely on the use of drugs. These include, for example, surgery, radiotherapy and dental treatment, as well as more complex interventions that combine several components of treatment in one procedure. The department also assesses diagnostic methods and screening tests for the early detection of diseases.

Staff members produce

Benefit assessments of non-drug interventions

The benefit assessments are based on IQWiG‘s systematic searches for published and unpublished studies. The results are published as a report or rapid report.

Assessments of potential according to the testing regulation

Within the framework of the testing regulation according to §137e (7) Social Code Book (SGB) V, manufacturers and providers of medical devices can apply to the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) for the testing of a so-called new examination or treatment method. The assessment of the potential of a new method is part of this testing regulation. The assessment of the potential of examination and treatment methods is usually conducted by IQWiG on behalf of the G-BA. Assessments of potential are part of an administrative procedure conducted by the G-BA. The content of this procedure is confidential. The results are only published if the G-BA decides on a testing directive for the method and this becomes officially effective. If the G-BA does not recognize the potential of a method, the results of the assessment remain confidential and are not published.

Assessments of high-risk medical devices

The G-BA has to assess the benefit, harm or ineffectiveness of certain treatment and examination methods involving high-risk medical devices in hospital settings. The G-BA usually commissions IQWiG to carry out this assessment. The results are published.

European Health Technology Assessments (EU-HTAs)

It is planned that, from 2026, EU-HTAs (Joint Clinical Assessments, JCAs) for selected medical devices and high-risk in vitro diagnostics will be carried out in a coordinated way across Europe. Based on European legislation and common methods, IQWiG will work together with other European HTA agencies to prepare JCAs.

If the results on examination and treatment methods leave relevant questions unanswered, the department uses clinical research methods to design testing studies.

Other tasks include

• further development of methods for assessing the benefits and harms of non-drug interventions,
• collaboration in international working groups, and
• dissemination of assessment methods and results, as well as other new scientific knowledge arising from the department's work, through presentations and publications.