Implementing health technology assessment in Ghana to support universal health coverage: building relationships that focus on people, policy, and process

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Hollingworth ◽  
Martha Gyansa-Lutterodt ◽  
Lydia Dsane-Selby ◽  
Justice Nonvignon ◽  
Ruth Lopert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Allocation Decisions ◽  
Universal Health ◽  
Resource Allocation Decisions

AbstractGhana is one of the few African countries to enact legislation and earmark significant funding to establish universal health coverage (UHC) through the National Health Insurance Scheme, although donor funds have declined recently. Given a disproportionate level of spending on medicines, health technology assessment (HTA) can support resource allocation decisions in the face of highly constrained budgets, as commonly found in low-resource settings. The Ghanaian Ministry of Health, supported by the International Decision Support Initiative (iDSI), initiated a HTA study in 2016 to examine the cost-effectiveness of antihypertensive medicines. We aimed to summarize key insights from this work that highlights success factors beyond producing purely technical outputs. These include the need for capacity building, academic collaboration, and ongoing partnerships with a broad range of experts and stakeholders. By building on this HTA study, and with ongoing interactions with iDSI, HTAi, WHO, and others, Ghana will be well positioned to institutionalize HTA in resource allocation decisions and support progress toward UHC.

Commentary on the article “Key principles for the improved conduct of health technology assessments for resource allocation decisions”

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (03) ◽  
pp. 362-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. David Banta
Keyword(s):  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
The World ◽  
Allocation Decisions ◽  
Resource Allocation Decisions

The article “Key principles for the improved conduct of health technology assessments for resource allocation decisions” presents fifteen principles for health technology assessment. Many of these cannot be disputed, and application of the principles as stated would undoubtedly improve HTA as it is developing in the world at large. My question is, are these the most important principles? The document does not really try to answer this question.

scholarly journals Budgeting for a billion: applying health technology assessment (HTA) for universal health coverage in India

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saudamini Vishwanath Dabak ◽  
Songyot Pilasant ◽  
Abha Mehndiratta ◽  
Laura Emily Downey ◽  
Francoise Cluzeau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Universal Health

Health technology assessment in universal health coverage

The Lancet ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 382 (9910) ◽  
pp. e48-e49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalipso Chalkidou ◽  
Robert Marten ◽  
Derek Cutler ◽  
Tony Culyer ◽  
Richard Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Universal Health

scholarly journals “Health Technology Assessment in High, Middle and Low-income Countries: New Systematic and Interdisciplinary Approach for Sound Informed-policymaking”

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed AlKhaldi ◽  
Sara Ahmed ◽  
Aisha Al Basuoni ◽  
Marcel Tanner
Keyword(s):  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
The World ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Technological innovation has a significant role in improving health systems (HSs) and achieving universal health coverage. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared resolutions on Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and other global organizations emphasized on HTA systems to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). HTA is a modern multidisciplinary decision-making framework linking knowledge and policymaking in order to provide evidence to leaders and ensuring the value of resources by evaluating properties, effects, and/or impacts. The scope of HTA focuses on conducting assessments and analyses to investigate the medical, social, economic, organizational and ethical issues within health and social systems for generating management and technical solutions. HTA is important as it is rapidly growing and is seen as an essential development approach to tackle existing challenges, particularly in developing countries as they share most of the health burdens worldwide. The research aims to comprehensively evaluate HTA within the health and social systems and understand HTA within the national health system with regards to the level of knowledge about HTA, current HTA practices, application, capacity, gaps, and solutions by investigating the perceptions of health systems’ stakeholders in five countries, Canada, Switzerland, Lebanon, Palestine, and Tanzania selected according to the World Bank income classification. The project will last 12 months starts in January 2021 and ends in January 2022. A mixed-methods, quantitative and qualitative, along with a scoping review will be applied. In each country, fifty semi-structured questionnaires, twenty in-depth interviews, and one national focus group discussion will be conducted with health experts, managers, and policymakers selected purposively from the 1st and 2nd levels of the HS structure. Excel, IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), and MAXQDA 12 (VERBI GmbH, Berlin) software programs will be used for data management and analysis. The research will form cutting-edge evidence and reference not only for the six countries, but also for the global, regional, and national endeavors with regards to opening a room for HTA best application and optimization based on the produced knowledge from this research. It will reveal lessons learned, determine gaps, and set an applicable strengthening framework for HTA. This framework will eventually aid the decision and policymakers in these countries, and other similar countries and international organizations to build a well-enabled and institutionalized HTA for better universal health coverage, health systems, and multi-sectoral development.

Commentary on the article “Key principles for the improved conduct of health technology assessments for resource allocation decisions”

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (03) ◽  
pp. 366-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duncan Neuhauser
Keyword(s):  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
To Come ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Allocation Decisions ◽  
Resource Allocation Decisions

“Key principles for the improved conduct of health technology assessment for resource allocation decisions.” The title says it all. I am amazed that such a summary is even possible and that it defines this field so well. Perhaps this report will be cited for years to come as the best and central definition of HTA. A field like this can be defined in other ways.

scholarly journals Development of a Health Screening Package Under the Universal Health Coverage: The Role of Health Technology Assessment

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 162-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yot Teerawattananon ◽  
Pritaporn Kingkaew ◽  
Tanunya Koopitakkajorn ◽  
Sitaporn Youngkong ◽  
Nattha Tritasavit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Health Screening ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Universal Health

scholarly journals Health Technology Assessment and priority setting for Universal Health Coverage: A qualitative study of stakeholders capacity, needs, policy areas of demand and perspectives in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Sunday Uzochukwu ◽  
Chinyere Cecilia Okeke ◽  
Niki O’Brien ◽  
Francis Ruiz ◽  
Issiaka Sombie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Priority Setting ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Service Improvement ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Introduction Health technology assessment (HTA) is an effective tool to support priority setting and generate evidence for decision making especially en route to achieving universal health coverage (UHC). We assessed the capacity needs, policy areas of demand, and perspectives of key stakeholders for evidence-informed decision making in Nigeria where HTA is still new. Methods We surveyed 31 participants including decision makers, policy makers, academic researchers, civil society organizations, community-based organizations, development partners, health professional organizations. We revised an existing survey to examine the need, policy areas of demand, and perspectives of stakeholders on HTA. We then analyzed responses and explored key themes. Results Most respondents were associated with organizations that generated or facilitated health services research. Research institutes highlighted their ability to provide expertise and skills for HTA research but some respondents noted a lack of human capacity for HTA. HTA was considered an important and valuable priority-setting tool with a key role in the design of health benefits packages, clinical guideline development, and service improvement. Public health programs, medicines and vaccineswere the three main technology types that would especially benefit from the application of HTA. The perceived availability and accessibility of suitable local data to support HTA varied widely but was mostly considered inadequate and limited. Respondents needed evidence on health system financing, health service provision, burden of disease and noted a need for training support in research methodology, HTA and data management Conclusion The use of HTA by policymakers and communities in Nigeria is very limited mainly due to inadequate and insufficient capacity to produce and use HTA. Developing sustainable and institutionalized HTA systems requires in-country expertise and active participation from a range of stakeholders. Stakeholder participation in identifying HTA topics and conducting relevant research will enhance the use of HTA evidence produced for decision making. Therefore, the identified training needs for HTA and possible research topics should be considereda priority in establishing HTA for evidence-informed policy making for achieving UHC particularly among the most vulnerable people in Nigeria.

scholarly journals Health Technology Assessment and priority setting for Universal Health Coverage: A qualitative study of stakeholders capacity, needs, policy areas of demand and perspectives in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Sunday Uzochukwu ◽  
Chinyere Cecilia Okeke ◽  
Niki O’Brien ◽  
Francis Ruiz ◽  
Issiaka Sombie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Priority Setting ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Service Improvement ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Universal Health

Abstract Introduction Health technology assessment (HTA) is an effective tool to support priority setting and generate evidence for decision making especially en route to achieving universal health coverage (UHC). We assessed the capacity needs, policy areas of demand, and perspectives of key stakeholders for evidence-informed decision making in Nigeria where HTA is still new. Methods We surveyed 31 participants including decision makers, policy makers, academic researchers, civil society organizations, community-based organizations, development partners, health professional organizations. We revised an existing survey to qualitatively examine the need, policy areas of demand, and perspectives of stakeholders on HTA. We then analyzed responses and explored key themes. Results Most respondents were associated with organizations that generated or facilitated health services research. Research institutes highlighted their ability to provide expertise and skills for HTA research but some respondents noted a lack of human capacity for HTA. HTA was considered an important and valuable priority-setting tool with a key role in the design of health benefits packages, clinical guideline development, and service improvement. Public health programs, medicines and vaccines were the three main technology types that would especially benefit from the application of HTA. The perceived availability and accessibility of suitable local data to support HTA varied widely but was mostly considered inadequate and limited. Respondents needed evidence on health system financing, health service provision, burden of disease and noted a need for training support in research methodology, HTA and data management Conclusion The use of HTA by policymakers and communities in Nigeria is very limited mainly due to inadequate and insufficient capacity to produce and use HTA. Developing sustainable and institutionalized HTA systems requires in-country expertise and active participation from a range of stakeholders. Stakeholder participation in identifying HTA topics and conducting relevant research will enhance the use of HTA evidence produced for decision making. Therefore, the identified training needs for HTA and possible research topics should be considered a priority in establishing HTA for evidence-informed policy making for achieving UHC particularly among the most vulnerable people in Nigeria.

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