Digitale Gesundheitsanwendungen (DiGA): Bewertung der Erstattungsfähigkeit mittels DiGA-Fast-Track-Verfahrens im Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte (BfArM)

With the Digital Health Care Act (DVG), the legislator has made it possible for digital health applications (DiGA) to be included in standard care and reimbursement in accordance with the Fifth Book of the German Social Code (SGB V). The prerequisite for the “app on prescription” is a listing in the DiGA directory after a positive evaluation procedure at the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). In addition to comprehensive quality and safety parameters, the manufacturers must also prove a positive healthcare effect. With the DiGA directory, the BfArM has been offering addressee-oriented comprehensive transparency on DiGA and their properties since October 2020. The article explains the path to the app on prescription from the support and advisory services offered by the BfArM to the evaluation procedure (DiGA Fast Track) and the evaluation criteria to the contents of the directory. It can be seen that there is great interest in the Fast Track procedure. The evidence of positive healthcare effects, i.e. an actual added value for patients, is balanced and at an appropriate level with predominantly randomised controlled trial evidence. The fact that the procedure can also be associated with challenges for the applicants, e.g. to adequately address deficiencies in the legally prescribed assessment period, is indicated by the numbers of withdrawn applications in relation to the listed DiGA. The BfArM is in close exchange with all parties involved regarding this new procedure. The conclusion of this article shows which considerations and potentials result from this for further development from the point of view of the BfArM.