Whilst demand for new health technologies, medicines and services is high, budgets are limited. Health Technology Assessment (HTA) helps healthcare providers decide which new health innovations to invest in from the many new developments that are put forward each year.

HTA enables us to answer key questions around the use of new technologies, for example, does it work? Does it work for all? Is it safe? Does it provide value for money?

Through analysing relevant evidence and knowledge, HTA answers these questions, enabling decision-makers to better understand the effects and consequences of healthcare technologies.

This means more informed decisions can be made relating to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation for the benefit of both patients and other stakeholders.

“Health Technology Assessment helps decision makers make informed choices by interrogating the right information” says Professor Jim Lewsey, lecturer for the MSc Health Technology Assessment at Glasgow University.

The research conducted by HTA professionals has a direct impact on clinical practice, population health and health policy, both nationally and internationally. HTA is also especially important in a healthcare crisis, where rapid decision-making and prioritisation of treatment and resources is paramount.

HTA and COVID-19

When the pandemic struck, healthcare systems world-wide turned their attention to fighting the virus, minimising its spread and developing a vaccine.

The pandemic increased the pressure placed on HTA bodies, who needed to rapidly evaluate and approve interventions - often with limited clinical or cost-effectiveness data available. It also prompted HTA authorities to develop new approaches and pool resources across jurisdictions to meet this challenge.

For example, Health Technology Assessment was used to evaluate techniques such as rapid diagnostic testing. In 2020, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) was requested to undertake a rapid health technology assessment of alternatives to the RT-PCR tests which are used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. In their assessment, HIQA considered a wide range of alternative tests and testing strategies, summarised their diagnostic accuracy and addressed the potential organisational and resource implications that might arise from the use of alternative tests. This information was then used to inform Ireland’s COVID-19 testing strategy.

Health Technology Assessment can also be applied to help health decision-makers deliver value and efficiency throughout the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out process. HTA can aid in calculating the number of vaccines needed, assess whether a country has significant capacity to meet demand, quantify the potential costs involved and identify potential bottlenecks in supply chains.

“Health Technology Assessment can help countries and international donors make critical decisions about COVID-19 vaccines, both in the near-term, and as COVID-19 becomes an endemic disease” reports the Centre for Global Development (CGD).

However, failure to incorporate HTA into the vaccine roll-out process could have significant consequences.

“Ultimately, if no systematic consideration of the evidence is available, important decisions [about vaccines] will be made anyway, potentially misallocating substantial resources and undermining the pandemic response” warns the CGD.

Learning from the pandemic

Not only is HTA playing an active role in the COVID-19 response, the pandemic has also provided an opportunity to further inform the role of HTA in the development of diagnostic technologies in the future.

Dr Janet Bouttell, Research Associate Health Economics & Health Technology Assessment at Glasgow University, recently published a thesis which proposes a framework and application of early HTA to diagnostic technologies. The theses drew upon several case studies, including a study focused on rapid diagnostic testing in COVID-19.

Dr Bouttell suggests that moving forward, developers of diagnostic technologies should be encouraged to consult an HTA practitioner at an early stage in the development process. Development Focused HTA (DF-HTA) can have many benefits, for example it can help developers to position their technology, articulate value propositions and engage with stakeholders. The framework proposed by Dr Bouttell can also be used to inform the approach taken by analysts and policy makers when developing diagnostic technologies.

“The development of health technologies is expensive and high risk, as many technologies in development fail to achieve commercial success. There are many choices to be made during the development process and the decisions made at this time are likely to influence the future success of the technology. It has been suggested that Health Technology Assessment undertaken during the development process may help to reduce the risk of failure or to accelerate failure and reduce research waste” says Dr Bouttell.

Help drive the future of healthcare technology

Health Technology Assessment is a cutting-edge discipline which has a direct, positive impact on healthcare services around the world.

Clinical and technological advances are helping to fuel the growth of the healthcare industry, making HTA professionals in high demand.

Led by one of the world’s leading research and teaching teams, an Online MSc Health Technology Assessment from the University of Glasgow will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need for a bright future in this growing field.

Drawing on insights in data science, health economics, analytical decision modelling and patient-reported outcome measures, this programme will give you hands-on experience of the interconnected disciplines that are core to Health Technology Assessment, preparing you for a variety of exciting careers, in areas including research, private industry, government agencies and international health organisations.

First published: 22 July 2021

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