Internal evaluation of the European network for Health Technology Assessment project

Objectives: The internal evaluation studied the development of the European network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) Project in achieving the general objective of establishing an effective and a sustainable network of health technology assessment (HTA) in Europe. Methods: The Work Package 3 group was dedicated to this task and performed the work. Information on activities during the project was collected from three sources. First, three yearly cross-sectional studies surveyed the participants' opinions. Responses were by individuals or by institutions. The last round included surveys to the Steering Committee, the Stakeholder Forum, and the Secretariat. Second, the Work Package Lead Partners were interviewed bi-annually, five times in total, to update the information on the Project's progress. Third, additional information was sought in available documents. Results: The organizational structure remained stable. The Project succeeded in developing tools aimed at providing common methodology with intent to establish a standard of conducting and reporting HTA and to facilitate greater collaboration among agencies. The participants/agencies expressed their belief in a network and in maintaining local/national autonomy. The Work Package Leaders expressed a strong belief in the solid base of the Project for a future network on which to build, but were aware of the need for funding and governmental support. Conclusions: Participants and Work Package Leaders have expressed support for a future network that will improve national and international collaboration in HTA based on the experience from the EUnetHTA projec

Norsk deltakelse i EMBL - European Molecular Biology Laboratory

Hensikten med denne rapporten er å tilveiebringe et vurderingsgrunnlag (fakta) for norsk deltakelse i EMBL. Rapporten inngår som en delutredning i en større utredning om norsk deltakelse i de store internasjonale forskningsorganisasjonene ESA, CERN, EMBL, ESRF og OECDs Halden-prosjekt

Informasjon om kunnskapshull fra Kunnskapssenterets systematiske oversikter og HTA-rapporter publisert i 2011

I 2011 publiserte Kunnskapssenteret 25 systematiske oversikter, metodevurderinger (HTArapporter) og helseøkonomiske evalueringer. Disse publikasjonene skal støtte kunnskapsbaserte beslutningsprosesser i norsk helsetjeneste. Ofte finner Kunnskapssenteret at forskningen ikke gir grunnlag for å konkludere om effekt eller sikkerhet av et tiltak. Selv om dette er en utfordring for beslutningstager, er det også en viktig konklusjon å formidle videre for å synliggjøre områder der det er behov for å initiere ny forskning. Kunnskapssenteret har et formelt mandat til å identifisere kunnskapshull, og har publisert slike rapporter siden 2008. Selv om vi ikke har full innsikt i bruken av disse, er vi kjent med at det er initiert flere forskningsprosjekter på tema der Kunnskapssenteret har identifisert kunnskapshull; screening for tarmkreft, habilitering av barn og unge, kateterbasert innsetting av aortaklaffer og fysisk aktivitet ved CSF-ME. Gjennom Kunnskapssenterets arbeid er det identifisert kunnskapshull på en rekke områder både tematiske og forskningsmetodiske

Health technology assessment to optimize health technology utilization: Using implementation initiatives and monitoring processes

Background: The way in which a health technology is used in any particular health system depends on the decisions and actions of a variety of stakeholders, the local culture, and context. In 2009, the HTAi Policy Forum considered how health technology assessment (HTA) could be improved to optimize the use of technologies (in terms of uptake, change in use, or disinvestment) in such complex systems. Methods: In scoping, it was agreed to focus on initiatives to implement evidence-based guidance and monitoring activities. A review identified systematic reviews of implementation initiatives and monitoring activities. A two-day deliberative workshop was held to discuss key papers, members’ experiences, and collectively address key questions. This consensus paper was developed by email and finalized at a postworkshop meeting. Results: Evidence suggests that the impact and use of HTA could be increased by ensuring timely delivery of relevant reports to clearly determined policy receptor (decision-making) points. To achieve this, the breadth of assessment, implementation initiatives such as incentives and targeted, intelligent dissemination of HTA result, needs to be considered. HTA stakeholders undertake a variety of monitoring activities, which could inform optimal use of a technology. However, the quality of these data varies and is often not submitted to an HTA. Conclusions: Monitoring data should be sufficiently robust so that they can be used in HTA to inform optimal use of technology. Evidence-based implementation initiatives should be developed for HTA, to better inform decision makers at all levels in a health system about the optimal use of technology