IQWiG

IQWiG, short for Institut für Qualität und Wirtschaftlichkeit im Gesundheitswesen (Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care), is a German federal institute that conducts independent assessments of the benefits and economic aspects of health care interventions. Its work is intended to inform decision making within Germany’s statutory health insurance system and the policy processes surrounding health technologies.

Established in 2004 by the Federal Ministry of Health, IQWiG conducts health technology assessments (HTA) of medical interventions, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other health care services. A central component of its mandate is the assessment of added therapeutic benefit for new drugs under Germany’s AMNOG reform, where IQWiG compares a medicine with appropriate standard therapies. The results support the decisions of the Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss (G-BA) on pricing and reimbursement.

IQWiG emphasizes evidence-based methodology. Its work involves systematic reviews, evidence synthesis, and where possible meta-analyses, focusing on patient-relevant outcomes such as mortality, morbidity, and quality of life, along with adverse effects and harms. All findings are published in publicly accessible reports, with methodological details made transparent.

In addition to pharmacological assessments, IQWiG evaluates other health technologies and services to provide policymakers with independent information about their value. The institute is funded by the federal government and operates independently of industry, maintaining scientific integrity through transparent methods and documentation.