Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care

The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare (IQWiG) () is a German agency responsible for assessing the quality and efficiency of medical treatments, including drugs, non-drug interventions (e.g. surgical procedures), diagnostic and screening methods, and treatment and disease management. IQWiG also supplies health information to patients and the general public.

The organization is independent of the pharmaceutical industry, contracted solely by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Joint Federal Committee.

Structure 
IQWiG was founded in 2004 under the directorship of Dr Peter Sawicki, who was in September 2010 replaced by Dr Jürgen Windeler. Its deputy director is Dr Stefan Lange.

IQWiG is divided into the following departments, which publish reports:

 Drug Assessment
 Non-Drug Interventions
 Quality of Health Care
 Medical Biometry
 Health Economics

General health information, written in plain language, is additionally produced by a Health Information department.

These departments are also supported by Administration and Communication departments.

Most noticed reports 
IQWiG hit international headlines in October 2010 with a report slamming Reboxetine as inefficient and harmful.

Similarly, in September 2010, another study rebuffed the use of Venlafaxine and Duloxetine as first-line treatment in major depression, but recommend them as  a second line option.

The use of Memantine in Alzheimer's patients was deemed as insufficiently supported by scientific evidence. This led Merz to publish additional studies, and the Institute to change its mind.

Insulin analogues were deemed as not superior to human insulin for the treatment of type I diabetes.

See also 
 AMNOG

References

External links 
 IQWiG website

Category:Health care quality
Category:German federal agencies
Category:National agencies for drug regulation
Category:Regulators of biotechnology products
Category:Government agencies established in 2004
Category:Medical and health organisations based in North Rhine-Westphalia
Category:Organisations based in Cologne
Category:Regulation in Germany