Health technology assessment: A key tool for advancing equity in universal health coverage
Abstract
Background: Health technology assessment (HTA) plays a crucial role in enhancing equity within universal health coverage (UHC) by making sure that health technologies are accessible, effective, and affordable for all groups, including those historically underserved. HTA informs policy-making concerning the adoption and prioritization of health technologies to fulfill the needs of the populace, particularly those afflicted with rare ailments and those residing in low- and middle-income nations. Through assessing both the clinical and costeffectiveness of health technologies, HTA identifies the most appropriate options for the needs of the community, thereby facilitating a fairer allocation of resources. Furthermore, HTA ensures the development and evaluation of health technologies are conducted impartially, incorporating the viewpoints and necessities of at-risk groups such as women, children, and the elderly. HTA is instrumental in mitigating healthcare disparities by pinpointing and tackling the elements that hinder equal access to health technologies. For instance, it evaluates the availability and accessibility of health technologies across various regions and demographic groups, identifies obstacles to access, and formulates recommendations to overcome these challenges. HTA is vital in advancing equity in UHC, ensuring that health technologies meet the accessibility, effectiveness, and affordability needs of all, particularly marginalized groups. By addressing healthcare disparities and considering the perspectives of vulnerable populations, HTA promotes transparency and accountability in decision-making and suggests ways to rectify inequities in access to health technologies.
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18. Kahveci R, Koc EM, Kucuk EO. Health Technology Assessment in Turkey. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2017;33(3):402-8. [PubMed ID:28595660]. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266462317000289.
19. Hofmann B, Lysdahl KB, Droste S. Evaluation of ethical aspects in health technology assessment: more methods than applications? Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res. 2015;15(1):5-7. [PubMed ID:25583536]. https://doi.org/10.1586/14737167.2015.990886.
20. Talebi A. Review of the Challenges for Health Technology Assessment in the World. Health Tech Ass Act. 2021;4(2). https://doi.org/10.18502/htaa.v4i2.6226.
21. Hollingworth SA, Ruiz F, Gad M, Chalkidou K. Health technology assessment capacity at national level in sub-Saharan Africa: an initial survey of stakeholders. F1000Res. 2020;9:364. [PubMed ID:32595957]. [PubMed Central ID:PMC7309411]. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.23263.2.
22. Kleme J, Pohjanoksa-Mantyla M, Airaksinen M, Enlund H, Kastarinen H, Peura P, Hameen-Anttila K. Patient perspective in health technology assessment of pharmaceuticals in Finland. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2014;30(3):306-11. [PubMed ID:25136762]. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266462314000282.
23. Yazdizadeh B, Mohtasham F, Davari M, Doaee S, Palesh M, Abdi Z, et al. Identifying Solutions for Strengthening the Health Technology Assessment Program in Iran. Health Tech Ass Act. 2018;1(2).https://doi.org/10.5812/htaa.62883.
24. Charlton V. NICE and Fair? Health Technology Assessment Policy Under the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 1999-2018. Health Care Anal. 2020;28(3):193-227. [PubMed ID:31325000]. [PubMed Central ID:PMC7387327]. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10728-019-00381-x.
25. Ananthakrishnan A, Luz ACG, Kc S, Ong L, Oh C, Isaranuwatchai W, et al. How can health technology assessment support our response to public health emergencies? Health Res Policy Syst. 2022;20(1):124. [PubMed ID:36333759]. [PubMed Central ID:PMC9636714]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-022-00925-z.
2. Mobinizadeh M, Olyaeemanesh A, Mohammadshahi M, Fakorfard Z. Applying Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) in Health Technology Policy Making: Background, Current Challenges, and Path to Future. Health Tech Asmnt Act. 2022. https://doi.org/10.18502/htaa.v5i4.10165.
3. Aalipour A, Hassanvand D, Zahed Gharavi M, Behzadifar M. Shortterm and Long-term Impacts of Foreign Direct Investment on the Development of Iran’s Health Sector. Health Tech Asmnt Act 2022. https://doi.org/10.18502/htaa.v5i3.9342.
4. Arab-Zozani M, Ghoddoosi-Nejad J, Da Silva Martins CM. Strategic Purchasing as an Evidence-Based Approach for Reducing Medi-cal Overuse. Health Tech Ass Act. 2023. https://doi.org/10.18502/htaa.v7i2.13817.
5. Culyer AJ, Bombard Y. An equity framework for health technology assessments. Med Decis Making. 2012;32(3):428-41. [PubMed ID:22065143]. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272989X11426484.
6. Oortwijn W, Husereau D, Abelson J, Barasa E, Bayani DD, Canuto Santos V, et al. Designing and Implementing Deliberative Processes for Health Technology Assessment: A Good Practices Report of a Joint HTAi/ISPOR Task Force. Value Health Reg Issues. 2022;25(6):869-86. [PubMed ID:35667778]. [PubMed Central ID:PMC7613534]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jval.2022.03.018.
7. Tantivess S. Social and ethical analysis in health technology assessment. J Med Assoc Thai. 2014;97:S81-6.
8. Aalipour A, Hassanvand D, Zahid Gharavi M, Behzadifar M. The Effect of Foreign Direct Investment on Improving the Life Expectancy Index in Iran. Health Tech Ass Act. 2023. https://doi.org/10.18502/htaa.v7i2.13818.
9. Kim T, Sharma M, Teerawattananon Y, Oh C, Ong L, Hangoma P, et al. Addressing Challenges in Health Technology Assessment Institutionalization for Furtherance of Universal Health Coverage Through South-South Knowledge Exchange: Lessons From Bhutan, Kenya, Thailand, and Zambia. Value Health Reg Issues. 2021;24:187-92. [PubMed ID:33838558]. [PubMed Central ID:PMC8163602]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vhri.2020.12.011.
10. Prevolnik Rupel V. Current Implementation of Health Technology Assessment in Healthcare System in Slovenia. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2017;33(3):360-4. [PubMed ID:28434423]. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266462317000083.
11. Ciani O, Wilcher B, Blankart CR, Hatz M, Rupel VP, Erker RS, etal. Health technology assessment of medical devices: a survey of non-European union agencies. Int J Technol Assess HealthCare. 2015;31(3):154-65. [PubMed ID:26044729]. [PubMed Central ID:PMC4535322]. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266462315000185.
12. Arab-Zozani M, Kakehbaraei S, Akbari-Sari A. Updating Health Technology Assessment Report; CBCT Technology: A Review Study. Health Tech Ass Act. 2021. https://doi.org/10.18502/htaa.v3i1.5851.
13. Thokala P, Srivastava T, Smith R, Ren S, Whittington MD, Elvidge J, et al. Living Health Technology Assessment: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities. Pharmacoeconomics. 2023;41(3):227-37. [PubMed ID:36652184]. [PubMed Central ID:PMC9848020]. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40273-022-01229-4.
14. Aryankhesal A, Behzadifar M, Bakhtiari A, Shahabi S, Azari S, Darvishi Teli B, et al. Exploring the landscape of health technology assessment in Iran: perspectives from stakeholders on needs, demand and supply. Health Res Policy Syst. 2024;22(1):11. [PubMed ID:38225573]. [PubMed Central ID:PMC10789076]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-023-010970.
15. Wortley S, Tong A, Howard K. Community views and perspectives on public engagement in health technology assessment decision making. Aust Health Rev. 2017;41(1):68-74. [PubMed ID:27050156]. https://doi.org/10.1071/AH15221.
16. Pichon-Riviere A, Soto NC, Augustovski FA, Garcia Marti S, Sampietro-Colom L. Health Technology Assessment for Decision Making in Latin America: Good Practice Principles. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2018;34(3):241-7. [PubMed ID:29888696]. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266462318000326.
17. Behzadifar M, Behzadifar M, Ehsanzadeh SJ, Bragazzi NL. The Potentials of Big Data in Achieving Universal Health Coverage in Iran. Health Tech Ass Act. 2023. https://doi.org/10.18502/htaa.v6i4.12823.
18. Kahveci R, Koc EM, Kucuk EO. Health Technology Assessment in Turkey. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2017;33(3):402-8. [PubMed ID:28595660]. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266462317000289.
19. Hofmann B, Lysdahl KB, Droste S. Evaluation of ethical aspects in health technology assessment: more methods than applications? Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res. 2015;15(1):5-7. [PubMed ID:25583536]. https://doi.org/10.1586/14737167.2015.990886.
20. Talebi A. Review of the Challenges for Health Technology Assessment in the World. Health Tech Ass Act. 2021;4(2). https://doi.org/10.18502/htaa.v4i2.6226.
21. Hollingworth SA, Ruiz F, Gad M, Chalkidou K. Health technology assessment capacity at national level in sub-Saharan Africa: an initial survey of stakeholders. F1000Res. 2020;9:364. [PubMed ID:32595957]. [PubMed Central ID:PMC7309411]. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.23263.2.
22. Kleme J, Pohjanoksa-Mantyla M, Airaksinen M, Enlund H, Kastarinen H, Peura P, Hameen-Anttila K. Patient perspective in health technology assessment of pharmaceuticals in Finland. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2014;30(3):306-11. [PubMed ID:25136762]. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266462314000282.
23. Yazdizadeh B, Mohtasham F, Davari M, Doaee S, Palesh M, Abdi Z, et al. Identifying Solutions for Strengthening the Health Technology Assessment Program in Iran. Health Tech Ass Act. 2018;1(2).https://doi.org/10.5812/htaa.62883.
24. Charlton V. NICE and Fair? Health Technology Assessment Policy Under the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 1999-2018. Health Care Anal. 2020;28(3):193-227. [PubMed ID:31325000]. [PubMed Central ID:PMC7387327]. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10728-019-00381-x.
25. Ananthakrishnan A, Luz ACG, Kc S, Ong L, Oh C, Isaranuwatchai W, et al. How can health technology assessment support our response to public health emergencies? Health Res Policy Syst. 2022;20(1):124. [PubMed ID:36333759]. [PubMed Central ID:PMC9636714]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-022-00925-z.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 8 No 2 (2024) | |
| Section | Brief Report | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/htaa.v8i2.15633 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Health Technology Assessment Equity Universal Health Coverage | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Behzadifar M, Yarahmadi M, Saran M, Behzadifar M. Health technology assessment: A key tool for advancing equity in universal health coverage. Health Tech Ass Act. 2024;8(2).
