Topic Check Medicine: Patient and Consumer Orientation in Topic Collection and Selection for HTA Reports

Abstract

The involvement of the public in the collection and selection of topics for health technology assessments (HTAs) is an important prerequisite for producing HTA reports on questions actually relevant to patients. In §139b (5) Social Code Book (SGB V), the legislator established the requirements for health insurance members and other interested individuals to propose topics for HTA reports to the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). How is the legal remit implemented with regard to the involvement of patients and consumers in topic collection and selection for HTA reports in IQWiG's Topic Check Medicine? Topic proposals for HTA reports can be submitted by any interested individual via a simple submission form on the "ThemenCheck Medizin" website. If the HTA question is unclear, IQWiG consults the person submitting the proposal. On the basis of topic processing, a Selection Committee comprising members of the public and patient representatives nominates 15 patient-relevant topics suitable for the production of an HTA report. IQWiG then chooses 4-6 topics from which HTA reports are produced. In the first 2 selection cycles (July 2016 to July 2017), 57 topic proposals for HTA reports were submitted from a wide range of topics. At the end of 2016 and 2017, the Selection Committee nominated 15 patient-relevant topics suitable for HTA reports. At the beginning of 2017, IQWiG selected 5, at the beginning of 2018 4 topics for HTA reports. The processing of topics and the selection process were largely judged positively by the Selection Committee. A high degree of involvement in topic collection for "ThemenCheck Medizin" is achieved through the simple submission form and the nomination of topics by the Selection Committee. Furthermore, important factors for successful implementation were political support from the legislator, choice of suitable members for the Selection Committee, and support of topic selection by this Committee. How the demand for greater involvement of patients and public can be implemented needs investigation in the future.