2. The EU HTA network

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The EU HTA network

In 2004, the European Commission and Council of Ministers targeted Health Technology Assessment (HTA) as “a political priority”, recognising “an urgent need for establishing a sustainable European network on HTA”. This led to the formation of the European Union Network of HTA organisations (EUnetHTA) which started as the EUnetHTA Project (2006-2008). The subsequent activities of EUnetHTA were organised through establishment of the EUnetHTA Collaboration 2009, the EUnetHTA Joint Action 2010-2012, EUnetHTA Joint Action 2 2012-2015 and EUnetHTA Joint Action 3 2016-2020.

Many HTA organisations in Europe are nowadays linked by EUnetHTA. EUnetHTA works closely with the EU Commission, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and stakeholder organisations representing patients/consumers, industry, payers (statutory health insurance) and healthcare providers. EUnetHTA is working to develop the methods, standards and processes of the network for HTA in Europe (HTA Network).

In response to the high level of diversity in European HTA methods, practices and outcomes as well as the high level of duplication of effort, the HTA Network aims to promote good HTA practices and methods and facilitate efficient use of HTA resources in Europe. Key activities that EUnetHTA are undertaking for the HTA Network include the development of HTA methodology guidelines and piloting of joint assessments of relative effectiveness. These activities will help reduce the level of workload at the national level and make it easier for HTA bodies at the member state level to conduct the additional analyses and decision making that are specific to their healthcare system.

See also the EUnetHTA “HTA Core Model®” in Lesson 1.