An essential component of health technology assessment (HTA) is the assessment of ethical aspects. In some healthcare contexts, tasks are strictly relegated to different expert groups: the HTA-agencies are limited to assessment of the technology and other actors within the health care sector are responsible for appraisal and recommendations. Ethical aspects of health technologies are considered...

For the past several years, we have discussed the idea of producing a publication on the history of health technology assessment (HTA). It seemed important to us to develop this history now, while those who lived it can give their own accounts. An exception is Seymour Perry, the first president of ISTAHC and the Director of the first national public program in HTA, the U.S. National Center for ...

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to describe the history of health technology assessment (HTA) in France. METHODS The approach was a descriptive review done by people who have been very much involved in this history. RESULTS The interest in HTA and evaluation as a tool for health decision making goes back to the 1970s in France. During the 1980s, there were several attempts to develop a...

BACKGROUND The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) approach, which provides scientific support for the decisions taken within the health field, is of increasing importance worldwide. In a context of limited resources, HTA has the potential of being an efficient tool for addressing the sustainability problems and the allocation choices arising from the constant increase in demand. AIM This stud...

BACKGROUND The literature recognizes a need for greater patient involvement in health technology assessment (HTA), but few studies have been reported, especially at the local level. Following the decentralisation of HTA in Quebec, Canada, the last few years have seen the creation of HTA units in many Quebec university hospital centres. These units represent a unique opportunity for increased pa...

OBJECTIVES Health technology assessment (HTA) has to innovate to best support changing health system environments and to help provide access to valuable innovation under fiscal constraint. METHODS Issues associated with changing HTA paradigms were identified through scoping and explored through deliberation at a meeting of industry and HTA leaders. RESULTS Five broad areas of change (engage...

In the theme section on information retrieval for health technology assessment (HTA), we are pleased to present a series of high-quality articles. The articles address various approaches to HTA searching and information management. Information retrieval and management is an integral part of the HTA review process. Those conducting searches must, therefore, understand the nature of the different...

T research findings from the NHS R&D Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme influence key decision-making bodies such as the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the National Screening Committee (NSC) who rely on HTA outputs to help raise standards of care. HTA findings also help to improve the quality of the service in the NHS indirectly in that they form a key component...