The National Commission for the Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) of the High Authority for Health (HAS) has issued a historic opinion by authorizing, for the first time, the reimbursement under common law of a digital therapy: the Joe robot from the company Ludocare. Intended for children aged 7 to 11 with persistent asthma, this interactive device improves treatment compliance and the autonomy of the young patient and demonstrates clinical superiority compared to traditional care, with a notable reduction in attacks. Although a first examination in 2025 was unfavorable, the provision of new evidence made it possible to obtain this recognition (ASA IV), paving the way for coverage by Health Insurance subject to ministerial validation and monitoring of its effectiveness in real life over the long term.
« The new data produced allowed the CNEDiMTS to conclude that the digital therapy examined, combined with standard treatment, was superior to standard treatment alone, in children aged 7 to 11 years benefiting from basic treatment for at least 3 months and not treated with biotherapies.«, note the HAS. « We observe, particularly in this age group, a significant reduction in exacerbations. However, this superiority could not be demonstrated in children aged 4 to 7 years.« .
Educational videos
In the context of pediatric asthma, which affects between 14 and 16% of children in France, the implementation of treatment is, in fact, systematically associated with a process of therapeutic education of the child and those around them, underlines the HAS, in particular to avoid the occurrence of severe attacks (exacerbations) and the associated risks (hospitalizations). The success of the treatment therefore requires significant mobilization of those close to you and the care teams.
Joe digital therapy thus guides the child in the management of his treatment by means of educational videos (reminders of his treatment steps, correct actions to carry out, etc.) through a screen integrated into a small robot. An application is associated with it, configured by those close to the child with prescription instructions. The challenge is to improve compliance with basic treatment and allow the child to gain autonomy.
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