institute for quality and efficiency in health care institute for quality and efficiency in health care the institute for quality and efficiency in healthcare (iqwig) (german: institut für qualität und wirtschaftlichkeit im gesundheitswesen) 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. institute for quality and efficiency in health careinstitut für qualität und wirtschaftlichkeit im gesundheitswesenagency overviewformed2004 (2004)jurisdictiongermanyagency executivesdr thomas kaiserdr stefan langeparent departmentfederal ministry of healthwebsiteiqwig website 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 replaced in september 2010 by dr jürgen windeler. windeler retired from the position in 2023, succeeded in the post by dr thomas kaiser. 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. it regularly communicates with similar organisations in other countries, such as with the national institute for health and clinical excellence (nice) in the uk and the haute autorité de santé (has) in france. 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 pharma to provide additional data, and the institute to change its evaluation. a report in 2010 indicated that long-acting insulin analogues showed no benefits over intermediate-acting insulin for the treatment of type i diabetes.