PHP30 - HTA IN BRAZIL: WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE THE CREATION OF CONITEC?

Abstract

The universal access to health public services was established in Brasil 25 years ago. However, health technology assessment as a requirement for decision-making process in the Public Health System (SUS) was defined only in 2011 by a federal law that created National Committee for Health Technology Incorporation into the SUS (CONITEC). The objective was to evaluate the advances of CONITEC in four years to enhance the access to new technologies into the SUS. This is a retrospective descriptive study, based on information from database (period 2012-2015) and CONITEC’s website (www.conitec.gov.br). Until the end of 2015, 259 technologies were evaluated by CONITEC, almost 65 per year. 63.3% (164) of technologies were incorporated, 28.2% (73) were not adopted and 8.5% (22) had disinvestment recommendation; increasing at three times the annual average of incorporation. The most of the technologies submitted were medicines (64%). Furthermore, in 2012, 43% of submissions were not evaluated because of non-accordance with the law and 90% of them were due to problems in economic studies. After four years and interaction between CONITEC and industries (workshops, training and previous meeting before submissions) this scenario changed and only 14% of submissions didn’t meet minimal requirements. Moreover, CONITEC has already done 142 public consultations, receiving more than 19,000 contributions, about two-thirds from patients and relatives. The new technologies available into the SUS after CONITEC’s foundation have already benefited more than 50 million Brazilians, reflecting US$ 1 billion public spending. The successful experience is based on the creation of a Department (DGITS) in the MoH, responsible to give technical supports to CONITEC; on partnerships with 20 universities and hospitals; and on international collaboration. As a consequence, in 2014, CONITEC was awarded as one of the main innovative initiatives in public administration, where social participation and transparency were recognized as strengths of CONITEC.