European Collaboration in Health Technology Assessment (HTA): goals, methods and outcomes with specific focus on medical devices

Abstract

Summary The European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) was founded to support efficient production and use of health technology assessments (HTAs) across Europe by reducing redundancies through collaboration. To facilitate collaboration, a range of practical tools, methods and process definitions were developed. The article describes when and how these tools and methods are used along the HTA process with specific focus on “other technologies”, that is medical devices and non-pharmaceutical procedures. EUnetHTA was able to deliver tangible achievements complying with its goals. The practical tools and the developed methods formed a basis for close collaboration among over 70 agencies at a European level. The activities of EUnetHTA laid a strong foundation for sustainable cooperation. In the long run, jointly produced assessments could realise economies of scale with improved quality, consistency and transparency for the health systems in Europe.

To what extent is Romania prepared to join health technology assessment cooperation at european level

“…The aim of EUnetHTA JA 3 is to define and implement a sustainable model for cooperation on HTA in Europe after 2020 by supporting the collaborative production of HTA and encourages the use of the HTA reports at national level (11). The updated list of assessments performed during EUnetHTA JA3 or planned to be performed is available on EU-netHTA website (12) EU collaboration after EUnetHTA.…”

“…The benefits for HTA agencies that contribute to and use EUnetHTA assessments are resource-and time-savings. But, to achieve this, the national agencies should align to EUnetHTA practices in terms of topic selection, scope, and quality of the assessment (11). These initiatives intend to harmonize or standardize the HTA processes so to improve their level of transparency, quality and comprehensiveness, and facilitate the extraction of relevant information that can then be trans-ferred cross-border.…”

Developing a quality management system for the European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA): toward European HTA collaboration

“…Several components of the QMS, such as process descriptions, templates, and methods, had already been developed in previous EUnetHTA Joint Action phases (7;8). The aim in JA3 was to complement missing parts, reconfigure the overall framework, and build up a comprehensive QMS as a blueprint for the European HTA collaboration post-JA3.…”

Evidence-Informed Deliberative Processes for HTA Around the Globe: Exploring the Next Frontiers of HTA and Best Practices Comment on "Use of Evidence-informed Deliberative Processes by Health Technology Assessment Agencies Around the Globe"

“…33 Moreover, the collaboration EUnetHTA is piloting joint topic identification, selection and prioritization as part of testing joint horizon scanning functions. 34 The role of horizon scanning was also the theme of the 2019 HTAi policy forum in Asia, which underscored the need for a transparent horizon scanning process that fosters early dialogue among HTA agencies, providers and industry about technologies in a clinical pathway, and the need for a shared Asian horizon scanning network. 35…”