Integrating technology, innovation and policy: COVID-19 and HTA

Abstract

Scientific abstract: The ongoing pandemic of the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has adversely affected the health and wealth of nations worldwide. While this negative impact is very visible, it has also resulted in subtle positive growth of innovative health technologies. This article identifies the critical role of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in analyzing innovations in health technology, using a case study from India. The first HTA on COVID-19 health technology from India, using the framework from the recent HTA definition, conducted on the innovative FNCAS9 Editor-Limited Uniform Detection Assay (FELUDA) diagnostic test shows the potential of HTA in health innovations in low and middle-income country (LMIC) settings. Hence, while COVID-19 has opened windows of opportunities for health innovation and entrepreneurship worldwide, HTA can play a critical role in ensuring the smooth confluence of technology, innovation and policy to ensure the positive impact of health innovation in addressing this pandemic and beyond. An integrated systems framework linking HTA with health innovation ecosystem is presented to conceptualize this link.Public interest abstract: The use of HTA for assessing impact of health innovations has been extremely low in India and other LMICs. The World Health Organization (WHO) in its definition of health innovations considers optimizing or improving performance of the health systems as the overarching goal of health innovation. The new definition of HTA also explicitly links the goals of HTA with that of the health systems objectives of efficiency, equity and quality. Technology embodies applicable knowledge that arises out of science, but not all technologies add value to health systems. In this case study, innovation was applied to create a novel technology (FELUDA) to address a void in testing capacity, while HTA was a tool used to assess the impact of this technology for health system and provide evidence for policy. This case study shows the potential for HTA to guide efficient, equitable and ethical policies for societal benefit. It is important that policy makers in LMICs recognize the role of HTA in assessing the value of health innovations and streamline policies based on evidence. A systems approach to HTA and health innovation is needed for optimizing the use of HTA in health innovations.