PP109 The Use Of Health Technology Assessment In Decision Making: Evidence From The Balkan Countries

Abstract

Introduction

According to the most recent definition health technology assessment (HTA) “is a multidisciplinary process that uses explicit methods to determine the value of a health technology at different points in its lifecycle. The purpose is to inform decision-making in order to promote an equitable, efficient, and high-quality health system”. This article aimed to evaluate implementation of HTA in decision making in the Balkan countries.

Methods

A scoping review of the existing literature took place to locate relevant scientific articles, policy papers and documents released by the respective Ministries. We searched data for 6 Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) and didn’t focus on those countries that are part of the European Union (EU). For the literature search key words were used, while documents only in English were included in the analyses. Additionally, the search was conducted for the period January 2010 until October 2022.

Results

The Western Balkan countries are in process of integration to the EU and based on this they are trying to make improvement in different sectors including health services. However, the use of HTA in most of the studied countries is in its preliminary phase. Most of the countries have established HTA bodies or specific authorities but with limited resources (both human and financial). Additionally, their reports are non-binding for policy makers and healthcare decisions are taken based on experts’ opinions and not an extensive HTA analyses.

Conclusions

Despite their efforts, the Western Balkan countries need to improve and considerably increase the use of HTA in decision-making. Its use can help in provision of better healthcare services as well as to decrease costs. Specific attention should be put on human and financial resources that are lacking in all settings.

Western Balkan countries need to put much more efforts for harmonization of their legal framework with that of the EU countries.