A major breakthrough for telemedicine and the use of AI in the Czech Republic thanks to VZP
The General Health Insurance Company of the Czech Republic (VZP), led by its director Ivan Duškov, has launched a new system for the managed entry of innovations into the public health insurance scheme. It is intended to open up a faster and more predictable path to reimbursement, particularly for digital health technologies, telemedicine, software as a medical device, and tools utilising artificial intelligence. However, the new methodology, which has been effective since 21 September 2026, is not based solely on technological novelty. The decisive factor is to be a demonstrable or practically verifiable benefit for patients and the healthcare system, including clinical safety, economic impact and the technology’s readiness for real-world use.
The new process is primarily intended for innovations for which there is as yet no clear path to reimbursement. In addition to software as a medical device, this may include digital health technologies, telemedicine, remote monitoring, AI and algorithmic tools, or medical devices with a significant digital component. Proposals may be submitted primarily by manufacturers and technology suppliers, research or academic institutions and their consortia, exclusively online via the Innovation Portal website (inovace.vzp.cz).
VZP has opened a rolling call for proposals with a significant impact on the economic efficiency of the system. A prerequisite is a demonstrable saving in direct public health insurance costs of at least 5 per cent per year compared with the current situation, whilst maintaining or improving the quality, safety or accessibility of care. Applicants must substantiate the savings by means of a budget impact analysis (BIA). In addition, VZP is to issue time-limited thematic calls for proposals focusing, for example, on oncological, cardiovascular, metabolic or neurodegenerative diseases. The methodology also precisely defines the range of projects that must not be included in the managed entry process.
When the evidence is not yet sufficient
However, merely meeting the economic criterion is not sufficient for reimbursement. VZP also assesses clinical value and safety, patient benefit, the impact on the organisation of care, regulatory and data readiness, cyber security, and the ability to measure outcomes. Furthermore, this process does not replace regulatory approval or conformity assessment, nor does it replace statutory pricing and reimbursement procedures.
If an innovation shows promise but the available evidence is not yet sufficient, VZP may opt for conditional entry or a pilot evaluation. The target population, KPIs, data sources, financial framework and rules for continuing or terminating the project are established in advance. In practice, this allows for the collection of real-world data needed to verify both clinical and economic benefits.
It is important for manufacturers and developers to note that the new process does not automatically create an entitlement to reimbursement. However, it does open up a structured pathway for submitting an innovation, having it assessed by experts and, where appropriate, verifying its value in practice. In addition to the quality of the technology, its regulatory and clinical readiness will also be key.
Author: Aleš Martinovský
