How Patients Can Contribute to the Assessments of Health Technologies

In the process of determining whether a health technology should be covered by healthcare systems, patients and their representatives were initially excluded from both evaluations and decision-making. In Europe, direct dialogue between patient organisations and regulatory authorities-particularly in the pharmaceutical sector-began in the early 1990s. It was only decades later, as the high cost of medicines created new challenges, that authorities recognised the necessity of engaging with patients. Patients' contributions to the assessment of a health technology begin with discussions about the need for the technology in question. Initially, these discussions involve the developer, and later-after research and development-regulators, HTA assessors, and payers. Given that multiple technologies may be under development, patients and their organisations often prioritise those that generate the most interest within the patient community. They can then share their perspectives with evaluators during the horizon-scanning phase. Another key contribution is the role patients play in guiding clinical research by participating in scientific advice. Finally, during the assessment and appraisal stages, various methods are used to gather their views.