Your biweekly news source for all things Health Technology Assessment international
Breaking News
Updates on the *new* HTAi Rare Diseases Interest Group
As announced in the previous Review, HTAi has established a new Interest Group on Rare Diseases. The group is chaired by Karen Facey, and co-chaired by Sheela Upadhyaya and Alicia Granados. They are supported by Technical Officer Lea Wiedmann, and an experienced and committed steering group made up of Dorota Zgodka, Farzana Malik, Heather Logan, Ramiro Gilardino, Veronica Lopez Gousset, and Juan Antonio Blasco.
The group is dedicated to sharing good practices in evidence generation for rare disease technologies (RDTs), fair assessment processes that take account of the feasibility of evidence generation and appraisal processes that take account of the burden of rare diseases on patients and society when determining value.
More information on the RDIG is available here. For inquiries regarding the RDIG or how to become involved, please send an email to [email protected].
Call for Input – Global Policy Forum Background Paper
The HTAi 2024 Global Policy Forum is taking place January 27-29, 2024 in San Diego, USA. Discussions will revolve around the main topic, “Designing Collaborations Involving HTA: Finding The Rhythm For Success”.
The Global Policy Forum is currently seeking member consultation on the background paper, available here. Member engagement is invaluable to the success of the Global Policy Forum each year. Members who are interested in submitting feedback are asked email comments to the Policy Forum team at policyforum@htai.org no later than Thursday, November 23.
IMPORTANT: Please submit feedback via email and not within the PDF. When submitting comments please indicate the line and page number you are referring to.
Realize the Full Potential of HTAi Membership
HTAi is the only global society championing equitable, responsive, and cutting-edge HTA. Membership opens doors to unparalleled access to top HTA leaders and experts. This exclusive opportunity to connect and collaborate with the best in the field is a unique privilege reserved for HTAi members, providing a platform for growth and influence in the HTA community. HTAi members can actively participate in specialized interest groups, expanding networks among HTA experts. These groups offer opportunities to work on projects that align precisely with individual areas of interest, creating valuable connections and opportunities for professional development.
HTAi membership also brings complimentary access to the International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, a valuable resource for staying informed about the latest research and developments in HTA. Moreover, members enjoy access to a wealth of high-quality resources, engaging webinars, and full access to the HTAi Educational Offers Database to stay at the forefront of this dynamic field.
HTAi memberships are valid January – December each year, which means membership renewal season is upon us!
Membership renewal portals are now open for all members! Renew your 2024 membership today.
HTAi Awards Celebrating Excellence in HTA: The David Banta and Sigrid Droste Awards
HTAi Awards recognize individuals who have made important and lasting impacts to the field of HTA over the course of their career. Nominations for two Awards open now open.
The David Banta Award
The David Banta Distinguished Career Award was established in 2012 And is named after its inaugural winner, Mr. David Banta. David Banta had a truly significant impact on the establishment and development of health technology assessment (HTA). Under his leadership, from 1975 to 1982, the Health Program of the US Congressional Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) played a leading role in establishing the highly influential field and methods of HTA.
These projects were instrumental in establishing a formal basis for HTA collaboration in Europe and a spirit of cooperation that has endured into the present. In addition, David Banta was one of the founders of the International Society for Technology Assessment in Health Care, HTAi’s predecessor Society. He edited the HTAi’s newsletter for more than 10 years, participated in establishing HTAi, and was a member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care.
The David Banta Award recognizes those individuals who have made outstanding and lasting contributions over their careers (over 25 years) in advancing the development and use of HTA internationally (in over 5 countries).
Recipients have demonstrated significant dedication to and impact on the field of HTA at the international level, including outstanding contributions to the science and methodology of HTA and leadership in the advancement of the production and use of HTA to support evidence-informed decisions making in health systems. These individuals have also been extensively involved in the work of HTAi.
The Sigrid Droste Ethics Award
The Sigrid Droste Ethics Award was established in memory of Sigrid Droste. Sigrid came from an initial background in Medical Geography and Cartography and found her way through medical information retrieval to Health Technology Assessment (HTA).
Being chronically ill herself, the problems of translating evidence into everyday patient care were her daily necessity. This led to her main interest in the ethics of HTA, where she achieved a high level of expertise. In her last 13 years, Sigrid worked as a senior research associate at the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG), the German HTA body.
The Sigrid Droste Ethics Award recognizes Society members in good standing who are making or have made important contributions in ethics in HTA.
Due to the significance of these awards, they will only be given in years when a suitable nominee(s) fulfills the Award’s eligibility criteria and is nominated by an HTAi member in good standing.
Nomination submission for the Sigrid Droste Award and David Banta Award will close December 15, 2023.
Updates from the HTAi 2024 Annual Meeting
Oral and Poster Abstract Submissions Close December 7!
The HTAi Annual Meeting is a key international gathering for sharing cutting-edge research, advancing discussions in policy and methods, and building global networks. The HTAi 2024 Annual Meeting will unite the global HTA community for dynamic discussions and debates on the future of health technology assessment worldwide. Focused on the central theme, “A Turning Point for HTA? Sustainability, Networks, and Innovation,” this year’s Annual Meeting promises to be a pivotal moment in shaping the course of healthcare assessment practices.
HTAi 2024 Annual Meeting Abstract submissions are open for Orals and Posters until December 7, 2023 at 23:59 MST (UTC -7).
Abstract submission guidelines are available on the 2024 Annual Meeting website. Annual Meeting abstracts undergo a meticulous review process to maintain the elevated standard of presentations to which our attendees have grown accustomed. The 2024 submission guidelines have changed. Please carefully and thoroughly read the updated guidelines to maximize your abstract’s potential for success.
Before submitting, get to know the 2024 Annual Meeting main theme and plenary themes.
Participation Grants Submissions Are Open!
HTAi offers Participation Grants (former Travel Grants) to support HTA stakeholders who would otherwise not be able to attend the HTAi Annual Meeting for the purpose of contributing their expertise, presenting their work or otherwise benefitting from participation in the global HTA community. These grants are funded directly by HTAi and in some cases, are sponsored by external parties on an unconditional basis.
Participation Grant application submissions are open now. Please carefully and thoroughly read the 2024 Participation Grant submission guidelines before submitting your application. Please note: Participation Grant submissions close December 7, 2023 at 23:59 MST (UTC -7).
Seville: A Living Tapestry
Seville, known as Sevilla in Spanish, is the capital and largest city of Andalusia, located in southern Spain. With a rich historical and cultural heritage, Seville offers a captivating experience for visitors. The city is known for its celebrations and festivals; its storied past and vibrant present; its Flamenco and Tapas.
For all its important monuments and fascinating history, Sevilla is universally famous for being a joyous town. While the Sevillians are known for their wit and sparkle, the city itself is striking for its vitality.
Book your accommodation today
We can’t wait to see you in Seville in June! Are you prepared for your stay?
The HTAi 2024 Annual Meeting will be held at the Seville International Convention Centre, part of Barceló Sevilla Renacimiento. The venue. is emblematic of the city for its architecture and design, is located on the banks of the Guadalquivir River and a central hub from which all parts of the city are easily accessible. The hotel has 295 spacious and bright rooms have been renovated, becoming the perfect accommodation for the 2024 Annual Meeting. The booking window for guests attending the Annual Meeting closes May 2, 2023.
Enhance Your Organization’s Presence within the HTA Community
Every year, the world’s leading experts in HTA convene at the HTAi Annual Meeting. This gathering serves as a dynamic platform for collaboration, participation, and the exchange of knowledge, all aimed at advancing global healthcare. This influential community comprises researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, academics, healthcare providers, agencies, and patients, all of whom constitute HTAi’s esteemed membership. The Annual Meeting represents a unique opportunity to actively shape the future landscape of HTA on a global scale.
Sponsors play a pivotal role in HTAi. Sponsor support ensures the continuation of international dialogues, such as the Annual Meeting. Annual Meeting sponsors gain significant visibility with the foremost global HTA leaders. This offers a valuable chance to establish meaningful connections with the diverse array of attendees. Sponsors also enjoy exclusive access and opportunities to engage one-on-one with delegates, collaborate directly with industry leaders, and actively participate in discussions encompassing the past, current, and future state of HTA around the world. The HTAi Annual Meeting is an intimate gathering that places sponsors’ organizations directly in front of those who are changing healthcare on a global scale.
HTAi is committed to nurturing unique and mutually beneficial relationships with each supporter and partner, ensuring that they find enduring value in the support they provide. For-profit and not-for-profit sponsorship opportunities are currently available. Are you looking for a unique way to get involved? Check out the our customizable opportunities to connect and engage!
If you are interested in a sponsorship opportunity for your organization or an organization you know, please contact the Annual Meeting team.
A Look Back
The Instituto de Evaluación Tecnológica en Salud (IETS) Conference
HTAi Past President Wija Oortwijn provided a workshop and presentation on deliberative processes for health benefit package design at the IETS (pre)conference. Information on the presentation is available here. As part of the conference, Wija also represented HTAi while presenting on the HTAi-ISPOR Task Force on Deliberative Processes for HTA.
The conference included approximately 135 participants, mainly comprised of policy makers, industry, and academia.
A central takeaway from the conference and workshop: In order to make legitimate (fair) choices, both procedural and substantive principles are important, based on participation of all relevant stakeholders. Principles need to be made explicit to stimulate public discussion about the combinations of principles, their definitions, and their application in different contexts (e.g., pandemic).
Participation in events such as the IETS Conference provides an opportunity to learn about deliberative processes and, depending on the country’s level of HTA development, how they can be used in optimizing HTA processes— especially in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.
Network News
Meet the new PFAC Chair
Introducing HTAi’s newest Policy Forum Advisory Committee Chair, Dr. Iñaki Gutiérrez Ibarluzea!
The HTAi Policy Forum Advisory Committee (PFAC) is an umbrella committee aligned with the strategic direction of the Society to review the operating models within and between the Forum Series, to ensure consistency and efficiency across the Fora, to review the impact, longevity and to respond to queries raised by the members, to provide clear direction on the Series, with an ultimate objective of supporting the overall sustainability for the Fora and the Society.
The term for current PCAF Chair, Dr. Alicia Granados, will end in December 2023. HTAi thanks Dr. Granados for her guidance and leadership to the Policy Forum Series!
DEA-IG Call for Submissions
The DEA IG, through Frontiers in Pharmacology is inviting authors who may have research articles pertaining to the translation of health technology reassessment and its outputs of disinvestment, de-implementation and de-adoption on drugs and medical devices.
Call for Participation in Patient Involvement (PI) in LMIC Working Group ProjectsDebjani Mueller (Chair of the Developing Countries Interest Group) and Anke-Peggy Holtorf (Project Coordinator of PCIG) are seeking interested HTAi members from HTA agencies, patient organizations, industry, researchers, or other affiliations and backgrounds to continue the work related to patient and citizen involvement in HTA or healthcare decision-making in Low- and Middle-Income countries. The work will examine the collective experiences of LMICs from around the world and reflect on what works well, what the challenges are and how they can be overcome, and what opportunities may be unique in the LMIC context.To bring this work forward, online workshops are planned on these topics in January/February 2023 and an in-person workshop at the upcoming HTAi annual conference. If you would like to participate in this initiative, please send an e-mail with an expression of interest, a short bio, and your contact details.
Survey on Early HTA and Related Terminology
The HTAi Early HTA Working Group is seeking participation in a Delphi survey on the terminology associated with early HTA.
The Working Group invites HTAi members to complete the survey and circulate it throughout your networks to ensure it reaches a wide range of audiences, including academia, HTA agencies, health service providers, consultants, and industry. The survey closes November 24, 2023. Take the survey
HTA News from Around the World
From the European Commission: The European Commission has released a fact sheet on implementing the EU HTA regulations. The fact sheet is available in 23 languages. Read more
From NICE: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence expedites medicine evaluations by 17%. Read more
From the Australian Government: The HTA Policy and Methods Review has released a draft paper: Optimised real world evidence to support health technology assessment in Australia. Read more
From the Bulletin Board
If you have an open position you’d like to share with the HTAi membership, please contact [email protected].
Executive Director
HTAi is seeking qualified candidates to fill the role of Executive Director. The HTAi Executive Director Transition Search Committee has contracted executive search and leadership consultants Odgers Berntson to manage the recruitment process. Details on the position are available here.
Project Coordinator, Annual Meetings (remote, full time)
HTAi is seeking a self-motivated, organized individual to coordinate all aspects of the Annual Meeting. The successful candidate must be able to support and collaborate across multiple teams in multiple countries and demonstrate fluency in English and Spanish. This is a 21-month contract position. Apply now
PhD Opportunity: Health Economics alongside Clinical Trials and Clinical Registries for Children
This PhD includes the opportunity to conduct health economics studies alongside clinical trials and registries, assess the distributions of health outcomes and healthcare utilisations across key socioeconomic indicators, and investigate health-related quality of life for various child health conditions. There are unique opportunities to work with internationally renowned clinicians and child health researchers, and participate in projects that aim to inform policy and practice. Applications close: 15 December | PhD opportunities to conduct health economics studies alongside clinical trials and clinical registries for children (unimelb.edu.au)
PhD Opportunity: Health Economics and Childhood Epilepsy
The aim of the PhD project is to estimate the health economic impacts for children and families with Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies (DEE) including health service use, cost, and quality of life. This is a unique opportunity to undertake health economics research alongside clinicians and conduct cost effectiveness analysis and discrete choice experiments. Applications close: 15 December | PhD Opportunity- Health Economics and Childhood Epilepsy (unimelb.edu.au)
PhD Opportunity: Paediatric Patient Reported Outcomes
The aim of the PhD project is to advance understanding of the use of the PROMIS-25 paediatric measure of health-related quality of life. The project will include analysing the psychometric performance of the PROMIS-25 measure for children with opportunities to extend into qualitative research, clinical application of the tool or application of results into health economic evaluation. This is a unique opportunity to undertake research on the PROMIS-25 tool using an existing dataset the Paediatric Multi-Instrument Comparison (P-MIC) study collected as part of the QUOKKA Research Program. Data have been collected for almost 2000 children ages 2- 18 years on a number of patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) allowing comparative assessment including across child age and condition. Applications close: 15 December | PhD Opportunity- Paediatric Patient Reported Outcomes (unimelb.edu.au)
IJTAHC Featured Publications
- Dynamic HTA for digital health solutios: opportunities and challenges for patient-centered evaluation. Read more
- Priority setting for health technology adoption at the national level: Lessons learned over 25 years’ experience. Read more
Moving from intervention management to disease management: a qualitative study exploring a systems approach to health technology assessment in Canada. Read more
Important Upcoming Dates
Webinar: Regulatory updates on harmonization of HTA among medical devices and digital medicine
This webinar is hosted by the HTAi Medical Devices Interest Group (MDIG) Overview On regulatory basis, the safety, performance, risks and benefits of medical devices are strongly regulated before market …
HTAi Offices Closed
The HTAi Secretariat will be closed for a holiday break, returning to the office January 2, 2024.
Webinar: Ethical analyses at HTA agencies: challenges and opportunities
Hosted by the HTAi Ethics Interest Group, this webinar will discuss the challenges and opportunities for being involved in conducting ethical analyses at HTA agencies. Bart Bloemen, co-chair of the …
Webinar: Ethical analyses at HTA agencies: challenges and opportunities Read More »
2024 Global Policy Forum
San Diego, USA San Diego, CA, United StatesHTAi Policy Forums provide the opportunity to interact and network with various stakeholders on a one-on-one basis, have open group discussions around relevant and pertinent topics, and have direct impact …
Nomination Deadline For the 2024 Board of Directors Election
Joining the HTAi Board of Directors is the perfect opportunity to support HTAi’s future and make an impact in the global HTA community. The HTAi Board of Directors and its Nominating Committee …
Nomination Deadline For the 2024 Board of Directors Election Read More »
Jordi Llinares Garcia Memorial Award Submission Deadline
The HTAi RWE&AI Interest Group is pleased to announce an exceptional opportunity available to students presenting at the HTAi 2024 Annual Meeting. Students with accepted abstracts linked to real-world evidence …
Jordi Llinares Garcia Memorial Award Submission Deadline Read More »
EOI Submission Deadline for DCIG Vice Chair, Steering Committee
DCIG is currently accepting expressions of interest from those wishing to join the Steering Committee, in particular, the IG has open positions for : Vice Chair Steering Committee members All candidates …
EOI Submission Deadline for DCIG Vice Chair, Steering Committee Read More »
The Characteristics of Rare Diseases That Complicate the Assessment of Technology Value
Evaluating the value of rare disease technologies poses challenges due to factors like poor natural history, small populations, limited data, complexity, and high unmet needs. Challenges vary across the spectrum …
The Characteristics of Rare Diseases That Complicate the Assessment of Technology Value Read More »
Deadline for EOI submissions for Global Policy Forum NFP Member
The HTAi Global Policy Forum is currently accepting Expressions of Interest to fill one (1) vacancy available for a Not-For-Profit organization. We welcome Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from not-for-profit organizational …
Deadline for EOI submissions for Global Policy Forum NFP Member Read More »
