Neovasc’s Reducer System has been included on the NHS High-Cost Tariff Excluded Devices (HCTED) programme, which aims to provide value for money for both hospitals and medical device suppliers.
Equipment developed and manufactured by Canadian biotech firm Neovasc for treating Refractory Angina has received its first national reimbursement in Europe after being placed on the NHS HCTED programme.
The device is currently being distributed across the UK by leading European medtech supplier Healthcare 21 (HC21).
Neovasc Reducer reduces pain associated with Refractory Angina through insertion into the coronary sinus vein, redistributing blood flow to other areas of the heart with poor supply. The device, currently CE-marked for use in the EU, is implanted under local anaesthetic, with the procedure taking as little as 20 minutes to complete, and most patients can return home the same day.
According to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, there are an estimated 96,000 new cases of angina in the UK a year. Being on the NHS HCTED programme opens the possibility for these patients to access new treatment options in new geographical regions, and eases pressure on NHS Trusts already managing a backlog of cardiology-related procedures resulting from COVID-19.
Steve Matthews, national sales manager for HC21’s Cardio Solutions division, said: “Being positioned on the HCTED list is a significant step for Neovasc in introducing the Reducer device to new hospitals across the UK. There are many patients suffering from this debilitating condition and the Reducer device will greatly improve the quality of life of these patients. At HC21, we are grateful to have supported Neovasc in bringing this device to the UK market, and we are pleased to provide our clinicians with a treatment option that is making a real difference to their patients.”
HC21’s UK headquarters is located in Basingstoke, Hampshire. The company acquired cardiovascular device supplier Cardio Solutions in 2020 to expand its offering into this market.
