HTA Transferability : a timely scoping review

Considerations for transferability of health technology assessments: a scoping review of tools, methods, and practices

Transferability of whole or part of HTA mechanisms is one of the most popular topics in public health. In fact, with recent EU Regulation 2021/2281 on Health Technology Assessment, transferability of whole or parts of HTA has never been a more fashionable across the HTA ecosystem.

Illustrative of this is the considerable audience and vibrant reaction to the Decide’s plenary session on HTA transferability organized earlier on the occasion of the ISPH2022 in Bergen, Norway (click here to see more)

This also explains why the Decide’s HTA-focused member organizations will soon work on the topic of transferability.

 

Expect HTAi, INAHTA, WHO but also partners Africa CDC, INEAS in Tunisia or iHTS and IDSi to share a wealth of perspectives and evidence-based findings in this context.

Against this backgrop, the recent publication of a study looking at transferability tools, methods and practices bring a fresh outlook at the aims and objectives of this topic. In the words of the author of that study:

Producing HTAs requires time, scientific expertise, and political commitment, but these are not available in all settings – especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) where HTA processes may be less institutionalized.

 

Transferring and adapting existing HTAs to local settings may offer a solution while reducing duplication efforts.

Looking at existing methods and tools, and underscoring EUnetHTA’s comprehensive toolkit enabling to adapt “multiple HTA domains”, this review identifies gaps and suggests further work leads that HTA practitioners and thought leaders may explore.

A real inspiration and useful ground work for the grateful Decide HTA Transferability working group, and beyond for the whole HTA community!

To read more: click here to access the study online