Hospital-based HTA

Health Technology Assessment in Hospitals Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a specific modality of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) that is developed within the hospital setting, considering the perspective of the hospital or care unit. Its purpose is to provide decision-makers with comprehensive and reliable evidence to evaluate the incorporation of new technologies, in a context where health systems face challenges such as the constant emergence of technological innovations and the limitation of available budgets.

To strengthen and institutionalize the ETS-H, it is recommended to have a defined organizational structure and staff trained in ETS. Whenever possible, it is suggested to create a specific unit dedicated to this task, supported by a legal framework that guarantees soundness, transparency, and efficiency in decision-making processes.

The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a strategic tool for guiding and informing the adoption of new healthcare technologies in hospitals, taking into account their organizational characteristics, the external environment, available scientific evidence, and financial resources. These elements are crucial for the successful implementation of the HTA and for ensuring informed and sustainable decisions.

The PAHO and RedETSA began working on this strategic line, and among the prioritized activities, a guide document was prepared for the hospitals in our Region.

The objective of this document is to support institutions interested in Health Technology Assessment in Hospitals (HTA), adapting international recommendations to the Latin American and Caribbean context, and disseminating information about this practice. It presents an overview of HTA in the region and proposes principles and practical measures for its implementation at the local level.

The report was compiled from a search of documents issued by HTA entities worldwide, an exploratory review of HTA-H publications in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the results of a survey of members of the Health Technology Assessment Network of the Americas (RedETSA). The review included 17 publications and 2 institutional documents, while the survey was answered by 64 institutions in 8 countries, mostly public and university hospitals.

I want to read the document

STI webinars in hospitals

Links of interest

The following methodologies developed in the Americas region were identified:

AdHopHTA

AdHopHTA Tool

Sampietro-Colom L, Lach K, Haro I, et al. The AdHopHTA handbook: a handbook of hospital-based health technology assessment (HB-HTA)

[Barcelona]: AdHopHTA Project; 2015.

Attieh R, Gagnon MP. Implementation of local/hospital-based health technology assessment initiatives in low- and middle-income countries.

Int J Technol Assess Health Care 2012;28(4):445-451.