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.

The department's staff produce:

• Benefit assessments of non-drug interventions
• Assessments of potential according to the German testing regulation §137e (7) Social Code Book V (SGB V)
• Assessments of high-risk medical devices
• European health technology assessments (EU HTAs)

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

Other tasks include:

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

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.