Towards Integrated Health Technology Assessment for Improving Decision Making in Selected Countries

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Health Technology Assessment
• Global Health Systems

Background:

• Global health technology assessment (HTA) practices vary significantly.
• Enhancing the legitimacy and fairness of HTA decision-making is crucial for equitable healthcare.
• Existing HTA models require comprehensive evaluation frameworks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the comprehensiveness of global health technology assessment (HTA) practices.
• To develop recommendations for improving the fairness and legitimacy of HTA decision-making processes.
• To evaluate HTA systems in diverse economic settings.

Main Methods:

• Developed a 13-criterion evaluation framework based on INTEGRATE-HTA and Accountability for Reasonableness.
• Examined HTA systems in Argentina, Brazil, Thailand, Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Scotland, and South Korea.
• Conducted desk research and structured interviews with 32 key stakeholders.

Main Results:

• HTA systems in Canada, England, and Scotland demonstrated high alignment with the framework.
• Australia, Germany, and France showed moderate alignment; Argentina and South Korea were at an early stage.
• Scoping is often omitted, evidence report provision is strong, but monitoring and evaluation require enhancement across most assessed systems.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a novel framework for evaluating the comprehensiveness of national HTA processes.
• Recommendations are formulated to guide the HTA community towards more integrated and robust decision-making.
• Continuous improvement in transparency and stakeholder engagement is vital for effective HTA.