IQWiG in the media

The press regularly reports on the results of IQWiG's work or asks the Institute’s researchers to comment on current developments and issues. A selection of recent articles is presented below:

EU-HTA: ‘The joint clinical assessment is an important step – but it is not guaranteed to be successful’

November 2025

European health technology assessment (EU-HTA) was officially started in January 2025. In an interview with PM-Report editor-in-chief Hanna Sachse, Beate Wieseler, Head of IQWiG’s Drug Assessment Department, drew a positive interim conclusion, emphasizing that ‘in the long term, EU-HTA offers the opportunity to make faster and more transparent decisions on access to new drugs. However, European harmonization can only succeed if the results are also compatible with national procedures, such as the AMNOG procedure in Germany.’

to the article (German version)

Health literacy: Dr Google becomes Dr AI

22.07.2025

In the German Medical Journal (Deutsche Ärzteblatt), Valentin Frimmer interviews experts about the importance of chatbots for health literacy. These experts include Klaus Koch, Head of IQWiG’s Health Information Department and Editor-in-Chief of gesundheitsinformation.de/informedhealth.org: 'Many people will be satisfied with the AI response and will no longer read further on health portals.'

Read the article at www.aerzteblatt.de (German version)

Evidence-based health care is crucial for ensuring the system's long-term viability.

14.07.2025

Jutta Mutschler, editor-in-chief of Market Access & Health Policy, profiles Michaela Eikermann, Deputy Director of IQWiG. In the article, Eikermann emphasizes that her goal is to ensure that all citizens have access to good, fair health care.

to the article (German version)

At the moment, we have to be prepared for drastic restrictions at any time.

08.05.2025

In an interview with Deutsches Ärzteblatt, Siw Waffenschmidt, Head of IQWiG's Information Management Department, explains how the US government's anti-science policy could affect the work of IQWiG.

to the article on www.aerzteblatt.de (German version)

Stronger focus on the methods for conducting studies

02.04.2025

In an interview with the Monitor Healthcare Research (Monitor Versorgungsforschung), the Institute’s Director, Thomas Kaiser, said that IQWiG no longer wants to assess drugs only after studies have been conducted, but rather to help answer the question of whether a new drug offers an advantage over existing treatment options from the outset.

to the article on www.monitor-versorgungsforschung.de (German version)

Failure is part of a good error culture

28.03.2025

In an interview with the Marburger Bund newspaper, which reaches 143,000 hospital doctors every month, IQWiG Director Thomas Kaiser talks about minimum volumes, minimum contingency rates, data collection and IQWiG's working methods.

to the article (German version)

Hindrance or help: Can we do without IQWiG?

24.03.2025

In DocCheck’s ‘Fight Club’, Thomas Kaiser, Director of IQWiG, debates with DocCheck founder Frank Antwerpes whether IQWiG’s standards in the benefit assessment of new drugs are too strict.

to the article on www.doccheck.com (German version)

“No essential need for new outcomes”

14.01.2025

In an interview with “OPG Spezial”, Volker Vervölgyi explains why IQWiG believes there is no essential need for new outcomes in oncology studies.

to the article (German version)

"Doctors will still be able to prescribe all newly approved drugs"

30.12.2024

In January 2025, the new procedure for European benefit assessments of new drugs will start: the EU Health Technology Assessment (HTA). In an interview with the German medical journal Deutsches Ärzteblatt, Regina Skavron, Head of IQWiG’s Division of Methodology and Coordination of European HTA, explains what this will change for doctors in Germany.

to the article on www.aerzteblatt.de (German version)