The influence of technology assessments by advisory bodies on health policy and practice

Assessments of 45 health technologies undertaken by Australian advisory bodies are considered in terms of the effect they have had on health care policy. The conduct and impact of the assessments was influenced by selection of topics, timing, other inputs to policy formulation and changes to policy areas and assessment agencies. Seventeen of 26 detailed assessments appear to have influenced policy, with greatest impact occurring when the technology was being introduced and there was collection of local primary data. Continued requests for the assessment reports suggests a possible longer term educational effect. All nine appraisals of proposals for nationally funded centres were influential, but the influence of guidelines for superspecialty services is less clear. Factors decreasing the influence of assessments included limitations of available policy instruments, lack of consensus between governments and professional groups and pressure of more urgent matters on the policy process.