The Spanish Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment and Services of the National Health System (RedETS)

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (03) ◽  
pp. 176-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Serrano-Aguilar ◽  
José Asua-Batarrita ◽  
María Teresa Molina-López ◽  
Mireia Espallargues ◽  
Joan Pons-Rafols ◽  
...  

AbstractEarlier activities on health technology assessment (HTA) started in Spain around 1984, with the creation of a National Advisory Board on HTA, and the development of national and regional HTA organizations in the early 1990s. In 2012, the Spanish Health Ministry established the Spanish Network for Health Technology Assessment of the National Health System (RedETS); funded at national level and including all public HTA organizations at national and regional levels. RedETSis focused on the assessment of nondrug health technologies to inform the revision (approval and funding or disinvestment) of the Benefit Portfolio of the Spanish NHS. In parallel with European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA), RedETS has been setting-up and sharing common procedures and methodological guidelines to ensure effective cooperation and mutual recognition of the scientific and technical production in HTA. The output of RedETS is fifty to sixty annual reports, including the production of full HTA reports, Clinical Practice Guidelines, methodological guidance reports, relative effectiveness assessments, tools to support shared decision making between patients and healthcare professionals, and monitoring studies. The HTA assessments requested by the Regional Health Authorities are the biggest component of the annual RedETS working plan. These assessment needs are identified according to a yearly process and prioritized by a Commission composed of representatives from all Spanish regions with the aid of the PRITEC tool. The objectives of this study are to report and update the normative and organizational state of HTA in Spain; describing noteworthy advances witnessed over the past 10 years, as well as discussing existing challenges.

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.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (S1) ◽  
pp. 48-48
Author(s):  
John Vianney Amanya ◽  
Joshua Wamboga

Introduction:Increased capacity for utilization of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is key to ensuring high-impact; affordable health technologies reach the people who need them most. It also enables an environment for research in access to lifesaving technologies and innovations. The number of people suffering from one or more chronic diseases is rapidly increasing and the existing systems of care are not adequately addressing this increase. Increased HTA visibility provides an opportunity for a formal connection of Health Technologies (HTs), building a new working relationship among patients and healthcare professionals, health system strengthening, engagement of patients /consumers and health care professionals for follow up on existing HTs, and assessing new Health Technology innovations.Methods:We reviewed existing HTA literature, and hosted a meeting of fifty participants at the first HTA meeting representing different health stakeholders including patients. The meeting explored innovative synergies that addressed best practices in health policy and technological decision making, and opportunities for integrating HTA in Uganda's Health system.Results:Induced practical skills in coordinating a number of uncoordinated health technologies to over forty participants, an HTA strategy developed to complement national HTA initiatives and to generate information and tools to facilitate the start of hospital-based HTA initiatives in hospitals countrywide and regionally, to improve quality and efficiency of current initiatives. An HTA association, “Uganda Association of Health Technology Assessment - UAHTA” was formed, and a work plan for piloting hospital based HTA was developed.Conclusions:A Health Technology Assessment (HTA) system will enable comprehensive patient-centered, integrated (as opposed to simultaneous but independent) assessment of complex health technologies. There is a need for increased capacity and partnerships towards evidence generation, and accountability measures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (S1) ◽  
pp. 44-44
Author(s):  
Oresta Piniazhko ◽  
Kachveci Rabia ◽  
Dumenko Tetyana ◽  
Mariya Leleka ◽  
Alona Masheiko ◽  
...  

IntroductionThe Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Department of the “State Expert Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine” was established in 2019 for conducting assessments and development of recommendations for informing decisions of the Ukrainian Ministry of Health regarding financing of the health technologies. Since 2015, procurement of medicines by the state budget in Ukraine was carried out through international specialized organizations. The central procurement program covers forty-one programs for different disease areas. The list of medicines and medical devices purchased were based of procurement agreements with specialized organizations approved by Cabinet of Ministers Decree of Ukraine № 255 of 13 March 2019.MethodsDescriptive analysis of methodological processes around rapid review methods in HTA used for the procedure of central procurements of medicines. In the process of conducting rapid assessment we use a modern tool based on the HTA Core Model® for Rapid Relative Effectiveness Assessments version (V3.0). HTA Guidance in Ukraine was developed in 2017.ResultsThe list of government programs, for which rapid review methods in HTAhave been conducted, included following diseases: adult and pediatric oncology, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, and orphan diseases. Reports include an overview of comparative efficacy, effectiveness and safety, as well as analysis of reports from HTA agencies and thresholds, budget impact for informing decisions for development of the central procurement programs in 2019. The HTA Department conducted more than forty reviews in less than 6 months.ConclusionsUse of rapid review methods in HTA in Ukraine for informing decisions for the central procurement programs of medicines is the perspective for rational resource allocation and spending. This increases and improves patients’ access to effective, safe and cost-effective medicines.


2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (03) ◽  
pp. 315-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcial Velasco Garrido ◽  
Sandra Mangiapane

Objectives:Our aim was to review the recommendations given by health technology assessment (HTA) institutions in their methodological guidelines concerning the use of surrogate outcomes in their assessments. In a second step, we aimed at quantifying the role surrogate parameters take in assessment reports.Methods:We analyzed methodological papers and guidelines from HTA agencies with International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment membership as well as from institutions related to pharmaceutical regulation (i.e., reimbursement, pricing). We analyzed the use of surrogate outcomes in a sample of HTA reports randomly drawn from the HTA database. We checked methods, results (including evidence tables), and conclusions sections and extracted the outcomes reported. We report descriptive statistics on the presence of surrogate outcomes in the reports.Results:We identified thirty-four methodological guidelines, twenty of them addressing the issue of outcome parameter choice and the problematic of surrogate outcomes. Overall HTA agencies call on caution regarding the reliance on surrogate outcomes. None of the agencies has provided a list or catalog of acceptable and validated surrogate outcomes. We extracted the outcome parameter of 140 HTA reports. Only around half of the reports determined the outcomes for the assessment prospectively. Surrogate outcomes had been used in 62 percent of the reports. However, only 3.6 percent were based upon surrogate outcomes exclusively. All of them assessed diagnostic or screening technologies and the surrogate outcomes were predominantly test characteristics.Conclusions: HTA institutions seem to agree on a cautious approach to the use of surrogate outcomes in technology assessment. Thorough assessment of health technologies should not rely exclusively on surrogate outcomes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 154-155
Author(s):  
Irene Eriksson ◽  
Björn Wettermark ◽  
Marie Persson ◽  
Morgan Edström ◽  
Brian Godman ◽  
...  

INTRODUCTION:Over the past decades, early awareness and alert (EAA) activities and systems have gained importance and become a key early Health Technology Assessment (HTA) tool. While a pioneer in HTA, Sweden had no national level EAA activities until recently. We describe the evolution and current status of the Swedish EAA System.METHODS:This was a historical analysis based on the knowledge and experience of the authors supplemented by a targeted review of published and grey literature, as well as documents produced by or relating to the Swedish EAA System. Key milestones and a description of the current state of the Swedish EAA System are presented.RESULTS:Initiatives to establish a system for the identification and assessment of emerging health technologies in Sweden date back to the 1980s. Since the 1990s, the Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services (SBU) supported the development of EuroScan and was one of its founding members. In the mid-2000s, an independent regional initiative, driven by the Stockholm Drug and Therapeutics Committee, resulted in the establishment of a regional horizon scanning unit. By 2009, this work had expanded to a collaboration between the four biggest regions in Sweden. The following year it was further expanded to the national level. Today, the Swedish EAA System carries out identification, filtration and prioritization of new drugs, early assessment of the prioritized drugs, and dissemination of the information. Its outputs are used to select new drugs for inclusion in the Swedish national process for managed introduction and follow-up.CONCLUSIONS:The Swedish EAA System started as a regional initiative and rapidly grew to become a national level activity. An important feature of the system today is its complete integration into the national process for managed introduction and follow-up of new drugs. The system will continue to evolve as a response both to the changing landscape of health innovations and to new policy initiatives at the regional, national and international levels.


2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Macpherson ◽  
Lorna Thompson

Objectives: The Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) produces rapid reviews on nonmedicine technologies to inform advice for decision making in the National Health Service in Scotland (NHSScotland). This study describes our experiences and lessons learned in adapting for NHSScotland two rapid Relative Effectiveness Assessments (REAs) produced as part of the European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) project to test collaborative preparation and then local adaptation.Methods: The REAs were examined for their relevance to NHSScotland and the feasibility of their adaptation evaluated using a screening toolkit. Some supplementary literature searches were conducted and additional background information on epidemiology and the specific technologies was sought. To inform decision making within Scotland, it was also necessary to identify and review cost-effective analyses.Results: Robust evidence reviews were delivered for NHSScotland. Time saved was less than anticipated, partly due to the need to add in health economic information, and partly because of attempts to supplement and update the EUnetHTA material. The preparation of an accompanying advice statement for NHSScotland enabled the inclusion of local contextual information.Conclusions: Collaborative production and adaptation of HTAs is feasible and would be aided by the inclusion of cost-effectiveness analyses in the original work. Agencies should develop clear processes for adapting such reviews for their context with the focus on selecting appropriate topics for adaptation, avoiding unnecessary supplementation of the original work, and ensuring local ownership of final advice.


Author(s):  
Ali Sarrafkia ◽  
Saharnaz Nedjat ◽  
Reza Majdzadeh

Background: In Iran, health technology assessment (HTA) system dates back to nearly a decades ago (2008). Objectives: The current study aimed to define steps required to expand HTA in Iran by emphasizing possible future events related to the health sector. Methods: A preliminary list of future trends potentially influencing Iran’s HTA system was extracted through the literature review. Then, the trends were presented to 12 experts to obtain their opinions. Afterward, their influence on the future of the HTA system in Iran was investigated using in-depth interviews. The interviews were analyzed using the thematic analysis method; Initially, in three categories of capacity building, provision of HTA, and supportive mechanisms, and then according to the essential functions of a health system (i.e., control knobs). Results: Interviewees believed that strengthening the HTA system is mandatory, regardless of future political events. In the category of capacity building, adjusting training to the needs, using the capacity of graduates in conducting HTAs, training more students in the HTA profession as well as the establishment of a Ph.D. program, turning HTA into public demand, and preventing overuse of medical technologies were elaborated. In the second category (i.e., provision of HTA), the following themes were extracted: modernization and equipping of health system infrastructure based on the evidence provided by HTA, the legitimization of HTA to be used for all health technologies, preventing the introduction of unnecessary technologies and similar technologies that are currently using in Iran, and employing HTA in developing the basic benefit package. Conclusions: Due to international sanctions, Iran has a niche healthcare market. If sanctions continue, HTA would be a serious necessity to increase the resilience of the health system. In the case of sanctions relief, HTA is still necessary for the optimization of allocating resources. These steps, in both scenarios, are mostly related to the institutionalization of HTA, mostly on the legitimization of HTA and behavioral changes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul C Langley

The European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) guidelines for health economic evaluations represent a consolidated view of non-binding recommendations for assessments of the relative effectiveness of pharmaceuticals or other health technologies. EUnetHTA views itself as the scientific and technological backbone of the development of health technology assessment in the European Union and among its member states and other partners. Unfortunately, the standards for health technology assessment proposed by EUnetHTA do not meet the standards of normal science. They do not support credible claims for the clinical and comparative cost-effectiveness of pharmaceuticals. In rejecting the standards of normal science the guidelines put to one side the opportunity not only to re-assess and replicate clinical and cost-effectiveness claims but to provide meaningful feedback on claims assessment to health care decision makers. The purpose of this review is to make the case that, in failing to support standards for experimentation, EUnetHTA is advocating its partners support the creation of modeled or simulated imaginary or false worlds. While EUnetHTA is not alone in recommending the construction of imaginary worlds to support formulary decisions, there is still the opportunity to revisit these recommendations and decide whether or not to encourage a scientifically rigorous approach to health technology assessments - to abandon a commitment to intelligent design in favor of natural selection.  Conflict of Interest None   Type: Commentary  


2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (S1) ◽  
pp. 219-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang-yup Kim

Objective: To analyze evolution of the health technology assessment (HTA) at the national level in South Korea.Methods: Analysis of public documents, personal communication, and literative review.Results: HTA in South Korea has been developed since 1990s, first introduced by academia and institutionalized within the National Health Insurance (NHI). Rapidly increasing expenditure had been a challenge of the NHI, which considered health technology management as a cost controlling measure. An amendment was made to the NHI Law in 2000, and provision was made to regulate the process of determining new insurance benefits including procedures, drugs, and equipment. This requirement made the NHI agencies to promote HTA approaches in connection with the government and professional organizations. Also the Healthcare Act was revised in October 2006 ruling that HTA focusing on safety and effectiveness be responsible for new health technologies. Currently, the HTA process is governed by a governmental committee comprising twenty members and technically supported by the HTA center created in the NHI structure.Conclusions: Institutionalized HTA in Korea has been driven mainly by the requirements of the NHI and manifested strengths as well as weaknesses. The government is establishing a new organization for HTA, independent from the NHI.


2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 62-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Rabelo ◽  
Vania Canuto ◽  
Clarice Petramale ◽  
Tacila Mega

INTRODUCTION:Since the creation of the National Committee for Health Technology Incorporation in the Brazilian Health System (CONITEC), a new phase started in the public Brazilian Health System (SUS): a continuous updating of the system based on Health Technology Assessment (HTA). CONITEC was created by federal law in 2012 and is responsible for advising the Ministry of Health regarding the incorporation or disinvestment of health technologies. The whole process involves a strong interaction with society, including the composition of the committee, which has the participation of the National Health Council. The objective of this study was to describe the results of CONITEC in five years of operation.METHODS:This is a retrospective descriptive study, based on information from the database (period 2012–2016) and CONITEC's website.RESULTS:Since 2012, CONITEC assessed 541 technologies, including drugs (360), health products (71) and procedures (110); 303 assessment requests came from SUS agencies and institutions and the other 238 requests from pharmaceutical companies, medical societies, patient associations and the judiciary bodies. In this period, there were 190 public consultations, during which more than 24,000 feedback from society were received. The average time for evaluation was 146 days. The committee recommended the incorporation of 186 technologies into SUS, the disinvestment of 43 and was unfavorable to the incorporation of 88, generating a budgetary impact of approximately BRL2.5 billion (USD764 million).CONCLUSIONS:From 2012–2016, CONITEC tripled the average annual incorporation of new technologies compared to the period 2006–2011. In this process, it was necessary to assess efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of technologies, generating positive results for the expansion of access, health gains for patients and sustainability for the system. It should be considered that the use of evidence for decision making strengthens transparency in public management and the development of active processes of information, communication and social participation.


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