Health Technology Assessment and Biomedical Engineering: Global trends, gaps and opportunities.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Health Technology Assessment (HTA)

Background:

• Medical device diffusion is rapidly increasing, necessitating expert assessment.
• Unlike drugs, medical devices require environmental and maintenance considerations.
• A global demand exists for biomedical engineers skilled in evaluating medical technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the vision, mission, and strategy of the IFMBE Health Technology Assessment Division (HTAD).
• To highlight HTAD's achievements and their influence on global health policy.
• To underscore the importance of biomedical engineers in HTA.

Main Methods:

• The IFMBE Health Technology Assessment Division (HTAD) actively promotes HTA through various initiatives.
• These initiatives include educational programs like summer schools and an eLearning platform.
• HTAD also develops training materials, guidelines, and awards to foster the HTA sector.

Main Results:

• HTAD has successfully implemented numerous projects and activities to advance HTA.
• These efforts contribute to the professional development of biomedical engineers in HTA.
• The division's work demonstrably impacts global policymaking in healthcare.

Conclusions:

• The IFMBE Health Technology Assessment Division (HTAD) is crucial for advancing global HTA.
• Continued investment in training and development is essential for biomedical engineers in this field.
• HTAD's strategic approach effectively supports the integration of medical devices into healthcare systems.