Innovation in European healthcare – what can Sweden learn? - LIF

Issues in Sweden: reimbursement for innovation
There is no well-defined structure to get reimbursed for
innovative products – and national recommendations
are filtered through layers of decision-makers
• All the stakeholders suggest that there are no structured financial incentives or methods for
reimbursement of innovative products – and that it is vital for small companies to find their
first customers
• ”It is vital for medtech companies to find its first customers. Unfortunately, there are no such
early customers in the Swedish healthcare system”, regional innovation officer
• ”We will soon launch our first product, but not in Sweden. We have selected Germany as
our first target market, since there is reimbursement for our products.”, CEO small medtech
company
• ”The lack of reimbursement for innovation is a major problem. Take for example our
monoclonal antibody: you go through all the hurdles with an HTA and the assessment by
TLV to reach a national recommendation. TLV does an excellent job, but then the
recommendation is filtered through multiple layers, from NLT to the counters, the hospitals,
the clinics and individual doctors. National recommendations should be binding, a right of
the patient. Or at least, vetos on national recommendations at the local level should give the
benefit of the doubt to innovation.”, CEO global pharmaceutical company
• ”It is of paramount importance for our portfolio companies to find our first paying customers.
In particular for companies with physical products, where user feedback and partnership
with the clinical reality is necessary. Today, there is no structured reimbursement method for
innovative products.” Head of life science investments, Industrifonden
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