HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT IN POLAND AND SCOTLAND: COMPARISON OF PROCESS AND DECISIONS

Author(s):  
Katarzyna Kolasa ◽  
Radek Wasiak

Objectives: We compared Polish and Scottish Health Technology Assessment (HTA) process in order to elicit recommendations for future development of HTA methodological guidelines in Poland.Methods: We studied the differences between Polish and Scottish HTA methodological guidelines. HTA recommendations issued by Polish HTA agency (AHTAPol) in the period January 1 through December 31, 2008, were benchmarked to HTA guidance published by Scottish Medical Consortium (SMC) for the same drug technology.Results: The Scottish HTA methodological guidelines were more instructive in terms of clinical and economic evaluations than Polish guidelines. SMC evaluated forty-eight of sixty-eight drug technologies appraised by AHTAPoL. There were thirty drug technologies that received similar guidance in both countries and eighteen with contradictory HTA recommendations. In Scotland, there were more positive HTA recommendations than there were in Poland. While comments about efficacy or safety were commonplace among reasons for negative recommendations in Poland, insufficient justification of treatment's cost in relation to benefits was the most often cited reason for rejection in Scotland. SMC tended to recommend restricted use to specific sub-populations for several drug technologies negatively appraised by AHTAPoL.Conclusions: The comparison between SMC and AHTAPoL suggests that there is potential room of improvement of the Polish HTA methodological guidelines. Comparative effectiveness and safety, subgroup analysis, and adaptation of models to local settings were identified as key areas for further development of Polish HTA methodological guidelines.

2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (S1) ◽  
pp. 82-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Cleemput ◽  
Philippe Van Wilder

Objectives: This paper gives an overview of health technology assessment (HTA) in Belgium.Methods: The information included in the overview is based on legal documents and publicly available year reports of the Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE).Results: Belgium has a relatively young history in HTA. The principle of evidence-based medicine (EBM) was introduced in the drug reimbursement procedure in 2001, with the establishment of the Drug Reimbursement Committee (DRC). The DRC assesses the efficacy, safety, convenience, applicability, and effectiveness of a drug relative to existing treatment alternatives. For some drugs, relative cost-effectiveness is also evaluated. The activities of the DRC can, therefore, be considered to be the first official HTA activities in Belgium. Later, in 2003, KCE was established. Its mission was to perform policy preparing research in the healthcare and health insurance sector and to give advice to policy makers about how they can obtain an efficient allocation of limited healthcare resources that optimizes the quality and accessibility of health care. This broad mission has been operationalized by activities in three domains of research: HTA, health services research, and good clinical practice. KCE is independent from the policy maker. Its HTAs contain policy recommendations that may inform policy decisions but are not binding.Conclusions: Although the Belgian history of HTA is relatively short, its foundations are strong and the impact of HTA increasing. Nevertheless KCE has many challenges for the future, including continued quality assurance, further development of international collaboration, and further development of methodological guidance for HTA.


2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 180-180
Author(s):  
Irena Guzina ◽  
François Meyer

INTRODUCTION:The French National Authority for Health (HAS) has participated in the work of the European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) since its creation in 2006. HAS has been an active partner in most EUnetHTA activities, and the lead partner of specific work packages.METHODS:This report presents a summary of the main contribution of HAS to the two latest EUnetHTA projects (Joint Action (JA) 1 and Joint Action 2 (JA2)), their impact on national production, and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) doers feedback as to the opportunities and challenges of participating to the network and using its outputs.RESULTS:In JA 1 and JA 2 projects, HAS has: coordinated activities related to Early Dialogues and Additional Evidence Generation; coordinated the development of nine JA1 methodological guidelines for rapid relative effectiveness assessment (REA) of pharmaceuticals; participated in the production of two JA2 methodological guidelines; participated in the production of one JA1 and seven JA2 rapid REA reports, and two JA2 full HTAs.The national uptake of EUnetHTA outputs included entire adoptation of one REA report and adaptation of another. EUnetHTA templates and methodological guidelines have been taken into account when updating or developing national ones. Thanks to the network, HAS HTA doers could exchange on ongoing assessments with European colleagues, have enhanced their methodological know-how and enlarged their professional network.As for the challenges encountered, it turned out that the re-use of EUnetHTA reports for a technology of interest to HAS was not always possible, mainly due to discordances in deadlines or assessment questions between EUnetHTA and national productions.CONCLUSIONS:HAS has actively participated in different EUnetHTA projects since the network's creation. This collaboration has enabled HAS HTA doers, among others, to optimize national assessments and enhance their methodological know-how.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (S1) ◽  
pp. 49-50
Author(s):  
Miriam Luhnen ◽  
Barbara Prediger ◽  
Edmund A.M. Neugebauer ◽  
Tim Mathes

IntroductionWhen making decisions in health care, it is essential to consider economic evidence about an intervention. The objective of this study was to analyze the methods applied for systematic reviews of economic evaluations in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and to identify common challenges.MethodsWe manually searched the webpages of HTA organizations and included HTA-reports published since 2015. Prerequisites for inclusion were the conduct of a systematic review of economic evaluations in at least one electronic database and the use of the English, German, French, or Spanish language. Methodological features were extracted in standardized tables. We prepared descriptive statistical (e.g., median, range) measures to describe the applied methods. Data were synthesized in a structured narrative way.ResultsEighty-three reports were included in the analysis. We identified inexplicable heterogeneity, particularly concerning literature search strategy, data extraction, assessment of quality, and applicability. Furthermore, process steps were often missing or reported in a nontransparent way. The use of a standardized data extraction form was indicated in one-third of reports (32 percent). Fifty-four percent of authors systematically appraised included studies. In 10 percent of reports, the applicability of included studies was assessed. Involvement of two reviewers was rarely reported for the study selection (43 percent), data extraction (28 percent), and quality assessment (39 percent).ConclusionsThe methods applied for systematic reviews of economic evaluations in HTA and their reporting quality are very heterogeneous. Efforts toward a detailed, standardized guidance for the preparation of systematic reviews of economic evaluations definitely seem necessary. A general harmonization and improvement of the applied methodology would increase their value for decision makers.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (S1) ◽  
pp. 47-48
Author(s):  
Erica Ell ◽  
Betânia Leite ◽  
Dalila Gomes ◽  
Daniela Rego ◽  
Lenilson Gonçalvez ◽  
...  

Introduction:In 2017 the Brazilian Ministry of Health (BMH), through the Department of Science and Technology (DECIT) and in partnership with the Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz (HAOC), financially supported research activities focused on health technology assessment (HTA) on topics deemed important by the BMH. The aim was to help resolve the priority health problems of the Brazilian population and to strengthen the management of the Unified Health System, within the scope of HTA.Methods:A survey of HTA research needs was carried out in all BMH sectors through internal meetings conducted by representatives from each of the sectors. The problems and needs were then discussed, prioritized, and transformed into research lines in a workshop sponsored jointly by DECIT and the HAOC. Following this, a specific public call was made to the HTA community to comment on the prioritized research lines. The submitted research projects were then judged and selected by a committee of experts in the field. The approved projects were contracted, and when the projects were completed the results were presented and discussed by the researchers in a final seminar for representatives of the BMH technical areas.Results:A total of 135 research gaps were identified, of which forty-two lines of research were included in the research call after the prioritization workshop and the search for evidence in the literature. The call involved an amount of BRL one million (USD 280,442), and seventeen research projects were financed, including two systematic reviews, seven rapid reviews, and eight economic evaluations.Conclusions:The promotion of research by the BMH has enabled the search for scientific evidence to support public policies and decision making in health services.


Author(s):  
John Gillespie ◽  
Sebnem Erdol ◽  
Chris Foteff ◽  
Liesl Strachan

Introduction:Health Technology Assessment (HTA) considers the question of whether evaluated technologies are cost-effective in real world settings. As observed in HTA conducted by the Australian Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC), questions regarding the validity of data inputs to economic analyses that reflect real-world practice is a common reason for uncertainty on the cost effectiveness of new technologies. In addition to resource use and costs, there may be other uncertainties regarding the eligible patient population, patient management pathways and comparator selection. Our objective in this study was to present case studies from Australia where real world linked datasets could be better utilized to inform HTA conducted by the MSAC.Methods:For selected therapy areas, assessment reports and public summary documents of HTA conducted by the MSAC published between January 2015 and November 2017 were reviewed. Our analysis identified HTAs where uncertainties around the inputs for health economic evaluations, as well as uncertainties in defining eligible patient numbers or current patient pathways of care were shown to exist. We then explored whether these uncertainties could have been addressed through real world linked datasets.Results:Our preliminary investigations identified two assessments: MSAC assessment of capsule endoscopy and transcatheter aortic valve implantation - where availability of real world linked data could have addressed uncertainties around the inputs required for the health economic evaluations.Conclusions:Australia has a range of real world datasets with the potential to be used to inform HTA conducted by the MSAC. This can only be achieved if the datasets could be better linked and accessible for use by key stakeholders in the MSAC HTA process (e.g. industry, clinician, patient societies). Use of these data sets in HTA will enable timelier patient access to cost-effective technologies and more effective implementation and review of technologies after adoption into clinical practice.


2000 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 520-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Mota Pinto ◽  
Francisco Ramos ◽  
João Pereira

The Portuguese healthcare system is often portrayed as a National Health Service (NHS) model, characterized by universal coverage, comprehensive benefits, nearly free services, national tax financing, and public ownership or control of the factors of production. However, in reality the system fails to accomplish these features in a complete way. There coexist a number of occupation-related health insurance schemes that were originally intended to be integrated into the NHS. In addition, in key areas the NHS does not provide the wide range of services it promises. The public sector has a predominant role in the provision of hospital stays and general practitioner consultations, but the private sector provides a major portion of specialist consultations, dental consultations, and diagnostic services. Major problems in the system led to health reforms in the 1990s. New reform proposals include some specific steps concerning health technology, including standards for medical equipment based on quality, geographic distribution, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. A new National Plan of Health Equipment was completed in 1998, aimed at improving the distribution of equipment. Despite reforms, healthcare expenditures continue to rise. There is general agreement that gains in efficiency could be made. This situation is beginning to encourage interest in health technology assessment (HTA) in Portugal, although these activities are not yet very developed. Recently, legislation requiring presentation of economic evaluations for new pharmaceutical products was enacted. Present plans also call for the creation in the future of a national agency for HTA.


2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (02) ◽  
pp. 113-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine L. Gooch ◽  
Douglas Smith ◽  
Tracy Wasylak ◽  
Peter D. Faris ◽  
Deborah A. Marshall ◽  
...  

Background:The Alberta Hip and Knee Replacement Project developed a new evidence-based clinical pathway (NCP) for total hip (THR) and knee (TKR) replacement. The aim was to facilitate the delivery of services in a timely and cost-effective manner while achieving the highest quality of care for the patient across the full continuum of care from patient referral to an orthopedic surgeon through surgery, recovery, and rehabilitation. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the study design, rationale, and execution of this project as a model for health technology assessment based on comparative effectiveness of alternative clinical pathways.Methods:A pragmatic randomized controlled trial study design was used to evaluate the NCP compared with the standard of care (SOC) for these procedures. The pragmatic study design was selected as a rigorous approach to produce high quality evidence suitable for informing decisions between relevant interventions in real clinical practice. The NCP was evaluated in three of the nine regional health authorities (RHAs) in Alberta with dedicated central intake clinics offering multidisciplinary care teams, constituting 80 percent of THR and TKR surgeries performed annually in Alberta. Patients were identified in the offices of twenty orthopedic surgeons who routinely performed THR or TKR surgeries. Evaluation outcome measures were based on the six dimensions of the Alberta Quality Matrix for Health (AQMH): acceptability, accessibility, appropriateness, effectiveness, efficiency and safety. Data were collected prospectively through patient self-completed questionnaires at baseline and 3 and 12 months after surgery, ambulatory and inpatient chart reviews, and electronic administrative data.Results:The trial design was successful in establishing similar groups for rigorous evaluation. Of the 4,985 patients invited to participate, 69 percent of patients consented. A total of 3,434 patients were randomized: 1,712 to SOC and 1,722 to the NCP. The baseline characteristics of patients in the two study arms, including demographics, comorbidity as measured by CDS and exposure to pain medications, and health-related quality of life, as measured by Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and Short Form-36, were similar.Conclusions:The Alberta Hip and Knee Replacement Project demonstrates the feasibility and advantages of applying a pragmatic randomized controlled trial to ascertain comparative effectiveness. This is a model for health technology assessment that incorporates how clinical pathways can be effectively evaluated.


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