WP 5: Usage of generic HTA in cross-border cooperation

Considering the resource constraints that Member States face and the rising range of expensive and sophisticated technologies available (pharmaceuticals, medical equipments, organizational and supportive systems,…) the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) definitely represents today a very important tool both at a national and local level, involving also an interest from the international community.

Cross-border regions are facing specific problems linked with patient mobility, workforce migration, investments and resources allocation. Working together for a better evaluation and assessment of health technologies and medical devices is a way for cross-border regions to join forces and save money reaching better results.

The technical development of HTAs and the usage of HTAs reports by local and cross-border decision makers, as well as by healthcare providers would reduce the costs of the assessments, since expertise, resources, results and technologies could be gathered and would allow an increase in the efficiency and effectiveness of health services.

Hence, the general aims of the working package 5 are: to support the realization of HTAs, to develop tools for their application in cross border regions and to demonstrate how new technologies can reasonably be included in the cooperation between neighboring countries, underlining the aspects that require particular attention.

The specific objective is to test HTA in small-size settings with multiple health care systems.

The related output will be a guideline, which will provide rules and indication for the use of HTA applications within the decision-making processes in cross border regions.

The scope of the working package will be reached through an analysis of the literature, highlighting the main promoting and hindering factors for the realization of HTA at a local level, focusing on cross border environment.

An expert workshop will be organized to assess an HTA methodology (guideline) and modify it, keeping into account the literature results and the particular needs of cross border regions. In particular, the main elements to be considered when findings from national HTA are interpreted and applied in a local, cross-border context will be highlighted.

The shaped guideline will be tested in some hospitals located in two or more cross-border regions. An HTA expert will coordinate and support the work in close cooperation with the hospitals involved and on this basis will modify and correct the guideline.

The ultimate guideline will be available on the project webpage and will be submitted to a final assessment by stakeholders and possible users (such as experts of regional/national HTA agencies, hospitals in cross border regions, etc…) to be validated.

As requested by the project, the guideline should be able to help decision makers at a local level and in cross-border regions to gather competencies and resources to perform health technology assessments, enhancing the health care provision and the health of population in small size settings having multiple and complex needs.

The first draft of the guideline will be available on the website in autum 2009.

The organizations involved in the realization of WP5 are: HOPE - European Hospital and Healthcare Federation, AEBR – Association of European Border Regions, Kreis Heinsberg region, ERW – Euregio Rhein Waal, GM – Gesundheitsmanagement Burger-Wieland, UM – University of Maastricht, LIGA.NRW Landesinstitut für Gesundheit und Arbeit NRW (Institute of Health and Work of Landes Nordrhein Westfalen).

The WP5 runs for 30 months from December 2008 to June 2011.

European Hospital and Healthcare Federation (HOPE) (Pascal Garel, Gloria Lombardi)