UK-based medical device manufacturer Sky Medical Technology Ltd tells us its wearable geko device is now reimbursed in the UK. This means better access to a clinically supported treatment option for wounds that are often the hard-to-heal chronic consequences of venous leg ulcer (VLU).
Background
The size of a small wrist-watch, the geko device is a self-adhesive, wearable neuromuscular electrostimulator. The clinician applies it to the surface of the skin just below the knee, over the head of the fibula bone. It delivers a gentle electrical pulse, once per second to the common peroneal nerve, activating the calf and foot muscle pumps. As a result this increases venous, arterial, and microvascular blood flow, effectively replicating the effects of exercise. Venous Leg ulcer healing is clinically demonstrably enhanced by adding geko to the current care standard.
Reimbursement means clinicians are able to make a recommendation to the relevant approval committee within their local Integrated Care System (ICS) that the device should be considered for local formulary inclusion.
To achieve reimbursement, products must demonstrate safety and quality. They must also have a positive impact on patient outcomes and the ability to reduce the total costs within the patient pathway. The geko device demonstrated improved clinical outcomes, released significant clinician time and delivered real economic and environmental value to the wound management system.
Ideal for home use and easy-to-fit, the geko device is a seamless addition to the current VLU pathway. Sky says it empowers patients to self-care, without disruption to daily routines. Furthermore it can help to share their care with family members and wound care professionals. This is reinforced by the high concordance rate of 94% reported in a recently published study.
Sky subsidiary company Firstkind Ltd., commissioned Richard Tuson, Health Analytical Solutions Ltd (HAS) to independently examine the economic outcome of the clinical trial data. He also assessed the subsequent real-world use of the geko device in this wound population. HAS led the successful application for UK reimbursement, enabling wound care professionals to prescribe the geko device, from 1st November 2023.
Venous Leg Ulcer: Analyst Comments
Richard Tuson, Health Analytical Solutions Ltd (HAS) said; “Venous leg ulcers are a growing burden, most often caused by compromised venous return. Worldwide, the annual costs for managing and treating VLUs is rising. In Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and USA the spend ranges from $0.24 billion (France) to $4.94 billion (US) and totalled US$10.73 billion in the geographies analysed2.
“Patients commonly experience pain and limited mobility, which can lead to depression, anxiety and social isolation. This can ultimately result in a reduced quality of life. Due to the savings related to accelerated rate of healing, the health economic modelling concludes that the cost of the geko device, in combination with standard of care for treating hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers, is lower than standard of care alone.
Company Comments
Bernard Ross, Founder and CEO of Sky Medical Technology states; “This is a key milestone for our business and for our global wound franchise specifically. Securing UK reimbursement is a major step towards helping the one in 50 people in the UK suffering with chronic wounds. They can now access a treatment that accelerates the rate of healing, particularly in wounds that struggle to heal with standard of care alone and represent the highest patient cost. It also cements our commitment to the streamlining of wound care through evidence-based clinical and economic efficiency for better patient outcomes and quality of life.”
Source: Sky Medical Technologies Ltd.
published: November 17, 2023 in: Vascular, Wound Care