New health technologies are constantly developing. However, their impacts on health and implications for health systems are not always clear. Faced with this situation, in the last 45 years, Health Technology Assessment (HTA) has taken an important role in the decision-making process related to the implementation of technologies in healthcare systems. According to the Core Model® EUnetHTA, a \"full HTA\" should cover nine domains: health problems and current use of technology, description and technical characteristics, safety, clinical effectiveness, costs and economic evaluation, ethical analysis, organizational aspects, patients and social aspects, legal aspects. In all domains of a HTA, the approach is evidence-based and uses epidemiological data, systematic reviews to gather the best level of proofs regarding clinical efficacy and safety of interventions and comparators and organizational and economic models. One exception is the ethical analysis, that uses value-based approach. Although in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) there are highly advanced technological environments, HTA has not yet been widely used in this field for determining the \"value\" of the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. An example of diagnostic tool used in NICUs is the near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), a noninvasive device that enables real-time monitoring of the condition of peripheral tissues in critically ill newborns. The availability of this diagnostic tool could improve the choice of the most appropriate treatment to the clinical situation of the newborn. The expected benefit of NIRS motivates the need of a full HTA.    Conclusion: HTA is still little used in Neonatal Critical Care, but it may be the appropriate tool to determine the \"value\" of technologies used in this field. The implementation of clinical trials and HTA may help in an evidence-based evaluation of new technologies for the neonatal critical care. This could facilitate the rapid introduction of the best health technologies into clinical practice. What is Known: • Health Technology Assessment (HTA) has taken an important role in the decision-making process related to the implementation of technologies in healthcare systems • The centrality of ethics in HTA has been known. In fact, ethics is everywhere in HTA, and value judgments permeate all levels of HTA What is New: • HTA is still little used in Neonatal Critical Care, but it may be the appropriate tool to determine the \"value\" of technologies used in this field • The implementation of clinical trials and HTA may help in an evidence-based evaluation of new technologies for the neonatal critical care and in introduction of the best and ethically acceptable health technologies into clinical practice.

UNASSIGNED: Dalbavancin is a semisynthetic lipoglycopeptide long-acting antibiotic approved for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs). Its features can be useful in the current healthcare scenario characterized by the shortage of available hospital beds.
UNASSIGNED: We implemented several actions in order to optimize the use of dalbavancin allowing an improvement strategy both from the healthcare system and the patient\'s perspective in two hospital settings. In the Emergency Department we hospitalized only patients who met the clinical criteria and not the logistic criteria (i.e., the need for antibiotic therapy infusion). During the years 2017-2023, this strategy was applied in 40 cases, thus avoiding 40 hospitalizations for a total saving of 280 days of hospitalization.In the Internal Medicine ward and surgery department when there was no longer any need for hospitalization, we discharged the patient as early as possible. During the years 2017-2023, this strategy was applied in 189 cases, saving at least 1,134 days of hospitalization. The outcome of the treated patients was favorable in 228 out of 229 patients (99.5%).
UNASSIGNED: Our experience using dalbavancin in ABSSSI has been very satisfactory overall. The efficacy was close to 100%. Minor adverse events of slight severity occurred rarely. At the same time, this strategy allowed a more efficient allocation of hospital beds. Dalbavancin presents an ideal pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic profile for the management of ABSSSI especially in settings where shortage of hospital beds is critical.

Fundamentally precision oncology illustrates the path in which molecular profiling of tumors can illuminate their biological behavior, diversity, and likely outcomes by identifying distinct genetic mutations, protein levels, and other biomarkers that underpin cancer progression. Next-generation sequencing became an indispensable diagnostic tool for diagnosis and treatment guidance in current clinical practice. Nowadays, tissue analysis benefits from further support through methods like comprehensive genomic profiling and liquid biopsies. However, precision medicine in the field of oncology presents specific hurdles, such as the cost-benefit balance and widespread accessibility, particularly in countries with low- and middle-income. A key issue is how to effectively extend next-generation sequencing to all cancer patients, thus empowering treatment decision-making. Concerns also extend to the quality and preservation of tissue samples, as well as the evaluation of health technologies. Moreover, as technology advances, novel next-generation sequencing assessments are being developed, including the study of Fragmentomics. Therefore, our objective was to delineate the primary uses of next-generation sequencing, discussing its\' applications, limitations, and prospective paths forward in Oncology.

The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Working Group of the Emerging Technology Division of International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) aims to develop a methodological approach for producing structured HTA information for laboratory medicine technologies. This approach seeks to support decision-making processes at the country, regional, and/or hospital levels regarding the introduction of specific technologies. The focus of this model will primarily be on defining assessment elements within the domains of \'organizational aspects\' and \'costs and economic evaluations\', potentially differentiated by the type of diagnostic technology (e.g., genetic tests, molecular tests). To achieve this project\'s goal, a literature review and examination of websites of international HTA agencies have been conducted. The research aims to identify multidisciplinary methodological approaches used to assess laboratory diagnostic technologies and to pinpoint the domains and assessment elements utilized. We found 7 methodological articles describing methodological approaches adopted to assess laboratory diagnostic technologies. Among the HTA organizations considered, 23 reports were found, of which 7 were produced by the European Network of HTA (EUnetHTA), 4 by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Diagnostic Assessment Program (NICE DAP), and 12 by other HTA agencies. The EUnetHTA reports were rapid collaborative assessments covering various domains, while the NICE DAP reports focused on diagnostic guidances, including descriptions of technologies, clinical need and practice, diagnostic tests, accuracy, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness. Finally, a survey targeting laboratory professionals will be conducted to introduce assessment elements, differentiated by the type of diagnostic technology, primarily for organizational and economic domains.

This article offers reflections on the development and management of health technology assessment (HTA) in Taiwan, drawing from my experience as a former Minister of Health and Welfare. The article explores my original vision for HTA, progress made, challenges faced, and the lessons learned during my tenure. Key areas discussed include evidence-based decision-making, the need for a balanced decision-making system, challenges in value justification of an independent HTA organization, and recommendations for countries looking to establish their own HTA agencies.

The Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP) was established in 2007. This article highlights 15 lessons from over 15 years of experience, noting five achievements about what HITAP has done well, five areas that it is currently working on, and five aims for work in the future. HITAP built capacity for HTA and linked research to policy and practice in Thailand. With collaborators from academic and policy spheres, HITAP has mobilized regional and global support, and developed global public goods to enhance the field of HTA. HITAP\'s semi-autonomous structure has facilitated these changes, though they have not been without their challenges. HITAP aims to continue its work on HTA for public health interventions and disinvestments, effectively engaging with stakeholders and strategically managing its human resources. Moving forward, HITAP will develop and update global public goods on HTA, work on emerging topics such as early HTA, address issues in digital health, real-world evidence and equity, support HTA development globally, particularly in low-income settings, and seek to engage more effectively with the public. HITAP seeks to learn from its experience and invest in the areas identified so that it can grow sustainably. Its journey may be relevant to other countries and institutions that are interested in developing HTA programs.

暂无摘要。

Drug repurposing faces various challenges that can impede its success. We developed a framework outlining key challenges in drug repurposing to explore when and how health technology assessment (HTA) methods can address them. We identified 20 drug-repurposing challenges across the categories of data access, research and development, collaboration, business case, regulatory and legal challenges. Early incorporation of HTA methods, including literature review, empirical research, stakeholder consultation, health economic evaluation and uncertainty assessment, can help to address these challenges. HTA methods canassess the value proposition of repurposed drugs, inform further research and ultimately help to bring cost-effective repurposed drugs to patients.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease with a substantial global burden, causing chronic pain and reduced quality of life. Managing OA efficiently while maximizing healthcare resources is crucial. Health economics and health technology assessment (HTA) are central tools providing a framework to evaluate the clinical, economic, and ethical aspects of healthcare technologies and interventions. This article presents some insights into the role of health economics and the HTA process in OA management. It also illustrates an example of cost-effectiveness analysis in a specific healthcare context, on the basis of a recent clinical trial involving hyaluronic acid treatment for knee OA. While HTA offers valuable insights, it faces challenges like data availability and resource constraints. Integrating health economics into decision-making can enhance patient care and allocate resources effectively in OA and other healthcare domains.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of awareness of health technology assessment (HTA) and its predictors among clinical year medical students in public universities in Klang Valley, Malaysia.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study using the stratified random sampling method was conducted among clinical year medical students in four public universities in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Data on the level of awareness of HTA and its associated factors were collected using a self-administered online questionnaire. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed using IBM SPSS version 27 to determine the level of awareness of HTA and its predictors.
RESULTS: Majority (69 percent) of participants had a low level of awareness of HTA. The predictors of high-level awareness of HTA were attitude toward HTA (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 7.417, 95 percent confidence interval (CI): 3.491, 15.758), peer interaction on HTA (AOR = 0.320, 95 percent CI: 0.115, 0.888), and previous training on HTA (AOR = 4.849, 95 percent CI: 1.096, 21.444).
CONCLUSIONS: Most future doctors in public universities exhibit a low awareness of HTA. This study highlights the interplay between attitudes toward HTA, peer interaction, and previous training as influential predictors of HTA awareness. An integrated and comprehensive educational approach is recommended to cultivate a positive attitude and harness the positive aspects of peer interaction while mitigating the potential negative impact of misconceptions. Emphasizing early exposure to HTA concepts through structured programs is crucial for empowering the upcoming generation of healthcare professionals, enabling them to navigate HTA complexities and contribute to evidence-based healthcare practices in Malaysia and beyond.