The Future of Health Technology Assessment in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Health Policy
• Global Health

Background:

• Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) increasingly use health technology assessment (HTA) to prioritize healthcare interventions and achieve universal health coverage.
• HTA has proven effective in LMICs, leading to cost savings and reduced drug prices, as exemplified by Thailand and Brazil.
• However, many LMICs face challenges with HTA capacity and policy integration, with only 53% of countries mandating HTA consideration in coverage decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the current state of HTA adoption and its challenges in LMICs.
• To propose future strategies for optimizing HTA use in LMICs to enhance health expenditure efficiency.
• To highlight the importance of HTA in achieving universal health coverage and strengthening global health security.

Main Methods:

• Review of HTA's role in LMICs for universal health coverage.
• Analysis of successful HTA implementation in countries like Thailand and Brazil.
• Examination of challenges faced by LMICs in HTA capacity and policy integration.
• Identification of key elements for future HTA strategies in LMICs.

Main Results:

• HTA has demonstrated significant cost savings and facilitated drug price reductions in LMICs.
• A substantial number of LMICs lack the capacity to conduct HTA or integrate its findings into policy.
• The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for efficient health spending and cost-effective interventions.

Conclusions:

• LMICs must adopt agile, localized, and collaborative approaches to HTA to overcome existing limitations.
• Optimizing HTA use can lead to improved health spending, better health outcomes, and sustainable healthcare financing.
• Strengthening HTA capacity is crucial for enhancing global health security and resilience in LMICs.