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Abstract
Background: In 2003, as part of Germany's health system reform and modernization, legislation called for the establishment of a new national institute for German health care. The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG=Institut fuer Qualitaet und Wirtschaftlichkeit im Gesundheitswesen) by a private foundation, established by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) that self-administers the health services in Germany. The institute was established in autumn 2004 in Cologne.
Objectives: The IQWiG is responsible for the scientific evaluation of the use, quality and efficiency of health care services and pharmaceuticals in Germany. Additional roles include the evaluation of clinical practice guidelines, making recommendations to disease management programs, and the publication of health information for patients and consumers. As a professionally independent scientific establishment, the institute will address questions relating to the quality and efficiency of services provided by statutory health insurance, considering people's age, gender and living conditions. The duties of the institute include the production of evidence-reports on topics requested by the G-BA and the Federal Ministry of Health, as well as the initiation, coordination and publication of scientific work in other areas.
The Institute has an internal steering committee which includes the Institute's director as well as 7 department heads. The steering committee develops and maintains the methods of the Institute's work. These methods are based on sound biometrical methodology and on the principles of evidence-based medicine as well as systematic reviews. They are openly available in the public domain, and free discussion of their content is actively encouraged. Transparency of the institute's methods and ongoing discussion should contribute to a continuously improvement of these methods.
Conclusion: The establishment of IQWiG is a big challenge for the German Health Care System. IQWiG will enhance the use of evidence-based decisions in medical care, and will provide more transparency in health care decisions for stakeholders, consumers and providers of medical care. The presentation will describe the Institute's structure, responsibilities, and methods as well as first results of its work more in detail.
Objectives: The IQWiG is responsible for the scientific evaluation of the use, quality and efficiency of health care services and pharmaceuticals in Germany. Additional roles include the evaluation of clinical practice guidelines, making recommendations to disease management programs, and the publication of health information for patients and consumers. As a professionally independent scientific establishment, the institute will address questions relating to the quality and efficiency of services provided by statutory health insurance, considering people's age, gender and living conditions. The duties of the institute include the production of evidence-reports on topics requested by the G-BA and the Federal Ministry of Health, as well as the initiation, coordination and publication of scientific work in other areas.
The Institute has an internal steering committee which includes the Institute's director as well as 7 department heads. The steering committee develops and maintains the methods of the Institute's work. These methods are based on sound biometrical methodology and on the principles of evidence-based medicine as well as systematic reviews. They are openly available in the public domain, and free discussion of their content is actively encouraged. Transparency of the institute's methods and ongoing discussion should contribute to a continuously improvement of these methods.
Conclusion: The establishment of IQWiG is a big challenge for the German Health Care System. IQWiG will enhance the use of evidence-based decisions in medical care, and will provide more transparency in health care decisions for stakeholders, consumers and providers of medical care. The presentation will describe the Institute's structure, responsibilities, and methods as well as first results of its work more in detail.