The health technology assessment system is one of the most reliable and rational approaches to health decision-making, maximizing value with limited financial resources. It assumes a choice from the therapeutic and diagnostic optimal, existing alternatives determining the receipt of the maximum benefit at the current level of costs. In terms of using new advanced methods of medical care, diagnosis, treatment, and development methods, HTA provides the structuring of the system of organizational innovations. Its application allows the state to make the management decision-making process objective and reduces corruption risks.
During the examination, it is necessary to take several steps to assess the most effective technologies in medicine:
- A structured description of the medical technology, including information on “the dosage regimen, conditions of use, the patient population” for which the medical technology is being considered, and relevant alternatives. (Hunter et al., 2018, p. 231)
- A systematic search of scientific literature and subsequent analysis of the clinical efficacy and safety of the considered medical technology (Jönsson et al., 2019).
- Economic assessment of the medical technology under consideration: performing clinical and economic research and research using budget impact analysis (Makady et al., 2017).
- Analysis of additional factors for applying the medical technology under consideration: assessment of the level of the added therapeutic value of medical technology. The level of localization of medical technology products should be analyzed and the possibility of using it in socially vulnerable populations (children, patients with orphan diseases, etc.) and other factors.
For the most qualitative analysis of medical technologies, specialists in clinical epidemiology and statistics must carry out the assessment. It is also vital to involve economists, specially trained doctors, managers, and other specialists. The assessment procedure should be “formalized and unified;” as a result, the likelihood of obtaining a systematic review and a correct economic model increases. (Houngbo et al., 2017, p. 587) When assessing, it is necessary to rely on economic assessment methods, evidence-based medicine, epidemiology, and statistics; these methods indicate specific expertise in evaluating the actual situation.
Based on the assessment, clinical guidelines and guidelines for drug supply management are developed that consumers of HTA should be able to use correctly (Leelahavarong et al., 2019). In the course of a technology Needs Assessment, the necessary benchmarks to follow are promoting the idea of a critical attitude towards claims without evidence, and tracking high-quality, evidence-based information, observing a unified procedure.
Potential challenges to health technology assessment may arise from different opinions of schools of various medical specializations, which may oppose or deny such a system. In addition, the system is hampered by the slow progress of the ideology of evidence-based medicine and the lack of striving for consensus (Wager et al., 2017). HTA has the advantage of a common assessment standard that aims to provide adequate assistance to the population. This contributes to improving the quality of medicine globally due to its compliance with accepted standards.
In conclusion, it can be noted that this technology assessment system will significantly improve the quality level of expertise of drugs, medical devices, and new medical technologies in the future. Due to HTA, it will be possible to determine the most effective treatment methods with available funding. However, at the moment, it is also an effective tool since a Technology Needs Assessment can provide valuable insights to help prioritize and allocate funds cost-effectively.
References
Houngbo, P. T., Buning, T. D. C., Bunders, J., Coleman, H. L., Medenou, D., Dakpanon, L., & Zweekhorst, M. (2017). Ineffective healthcare technology management in Benin’s public health sector: the perceptions of critical actors and their ability to address the main problems. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 6(10), 587.
Hunter, A., Facey, K., Thomas, V., Haerry, D., Warner, K., Klingmann, I.,… & See, W. (2018). EUPATI guidance for patient involvement in medicines research and development: a health technology assessment. Frontiers in Medicine, 5, 231.
Jönsson, B., Hampson, G., Michaels, J., Towse, A., von der Schulenburg, J. M. G., & Wong, O. (2019). Advanced therapy medicinal products and health technology assessment principles and practices for value-based and sustainable healthcare. The European Journal of Health Economics, 20(3), 427-438.
Leelahavarong, P., Doungthipsirikul, S., Kumluang, S., Poonchai, A., Kittiratchakool, N., Chinnacom, D.,… & Tantivess, S. (2019). Health technology assessment in Thailand: institutionalization and contribution to healthcare decision making: Review of the literature. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 35(6), 467-473.
Makady, A., Ten Ham, R., de Boer, A., Hillege, H., Klungel, O., & Goettsch, W. (2017). Policies for using real-world data in health technology assessment (HTA): A comparative study of six HTA agencies. Value in Health, 20(4), 520-532.
Wager, K.A., Lee, F. W., Glaser, J. P. (2017). Health care information systems: A practical approach for health care management. Jossey-Bass.