An equity framework for health technology assessments.

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Health Policy
• Health Technology Assessment

Background:

• Healthcare systems increasingly aim to incorporate equity, but practical tools for systematic evaluation are lacking.
• Current health technology assessment (HTA) primarily focuses on efficiency criteria like cost-effectiveness.
• Underdeveloped methods risk embedding explicit or implicit inequities into healthcare decision-making processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a pragmatic framework for decision-makers to systematically consider equity in HTA.
• To supplement existing efficiency criteria in HTA with a comprehensive approach to equity.
• To serve as a foundational step towards a checklist for equity considerations in HTA.

Main Methods:

• Development of a conceptual framework for integrating equity into HTA processes.
• The framework is designed for use in defining terms of reference for advisory bodies.
• It supports agenda scoping, intervention selection, and structuring advisory group discussions.

Main Results:

• A proposed framework to guide decision-makers in evaluating equity alongside efficiency in HTA.
• The framework aims to alert decision-makers to a broad spectrum of equity concerns.
• It provides a structured approach for advisory bodies and HTA processes.

Conclusions:

• The developed framework is a starting point for ongoing deliberation and consultation on equity in HTA.
• Systematic consideration and implementation of equity in HTA procedures and decisions are crucial.
• This approach can lead to more comprehensive equity assessments and guide future evidence gathering and decisions.