IQWiG

The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) was established as part of Germany's health care reform in the year 2004. It is an independent, scientific institution of the private and non-profit Foundation for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care. The foundation aims to support evidence-based decision making in the German health care system.

Dr Thomas Kaiser is the Director of the institute. He took up this post on April 1, 2023.

Who commissions IQWiG?

IQWiG can only accept commissions from the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) or the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG). The G-BA is the supreme decision-making body of the self-governing system in health care. It decides, for example, which medical services are to be reimbursed by the statutory health insurance funds.

The Institute can also investigate issues of fundamental importance on its own initiative. It was awarded a general commission for this purpose by the G-BA in 2004.

How is IQWiG funded?

IQWiG is funded through contributions from the members of all German statutory health insurance funds (GKV). This is achieved through levies on the costs of inpatient and outpatient medical services. The G-BA fixes the amount of levy every year. The Institute accepts no sponsorship or advertising.

You can find more detailed information about the institute’s structure, tasks, methods and findings on the IQWiG website.

One of IQWiG’s legal responsibilities is to provide the general public with independent and evidence-based health information. This task lies in the hands of the institute’s Health Information department.

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Please note that we do not provide individual advice on matters of health. You can read about where to find help and support in Germany in our information “How can I find self-help groups and information centers?

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Updated on April 3, 2023

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Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, Germany)

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