Expectations for the Development of Health Technology Assessment in Brazil.

Julia Simões Corrêa Galendi,Clarissa Lemmen,Stephanie Stock,Dirk Müller,Carlos Antonio Caramori

doi:10.3390/ijerph182211912

Abstract

The implementation of health technology assessment (HTA) in emerging countries depends on the characteristics of the health care system and the needs of public health care. The objective of this survey was to investigate experts’ expectations for the development of HTA in Brazil and to derive measures to strengthen the impact of HTA in Brazil on health care decisions. Based on a scoping literature review, a questionnaire was developed proposing eight theses for seven domains of HTA: (i) capacity building, (ii) public involvement, (iii) role of cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA), (iv) institutional framework, (v) scope of HTA studies, (vi) methodology of HTA, and (vii) HTA as the basis for jurisdiction. Thirty experts responded in full to the survey and agreed to five of the eight theses proposed. Experts suggested several measures to promote HTA within the scope of each domain, thus addressing capacity building related to HTA, availability, and reliability of population data, and legal endowment of the HTA system. Finally, HTA processes in Brazil should also address public health issues (e.g., appraisal of interventions directed at chronic diseases).

Highlights

IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
It has been previously reported that a shortage of qualified personnel in Brazil compromises the methodological quality of health technology assessment (HTA) reports, resulting in a low number of reports finished in time [48]
The implementation and expansion of HTA processes have to be in accordance with the characteristics of the countries’ health care systems and the availability of resources

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Health technology assessment (HTA) is a multidisciplinary process that aims to systematically assess the value of a health technology including, but not limited to, clinical, epidemiological, and health economic evidence [1]. The increase in medical expenditures and the limited resources available in most health systems have claimed for decisions to be guided by evidence and sound rationales [2]. HTA has been an important input to health policy formulation and implementation in different settings, especially when applied to inform decision making with regard to coverage and pricing of new medical technologies and to promote best clinical practices [3]

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Discussion

Conclusion