International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Deliberative Processes by Health Technology Assessment Agencies: A Reflection on Legitimacy, Values and Patient and Public Involvement; Comment on “Use of Evidence-informed Deliberative Processes by Health Technology Assessment Agencies Around the Globe”

Document Type : Commentary

Authors
Mireille Goetghebeur 1
Marjo Cellier 2
1 Department of Management, Evaluation and Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
2 Research Center, University Hospital Center Ste Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
10.34172/ijhpm.2020.46
Abstract
Legitimacy of deliberation processes leading to recommendations for public financing or clinical practice depends on the data considered, stakeholders involved and the process by which both of these are selected and organised. Oortwijn et al provides an interesting exploration of processes currently in place in health technology assessment (HTA) agencies. However, agencies are struggling with core issues central to their legitimacy that goes beyond the procedural exploration of Oortwijn et al, such as: how processes reflect the mission and values of the agencies? How they ensure that recommendations are fair and reasonable? Which role should be given to public and patient involvement? Do agencies have a positive impact on the healthcare system and the populations served? What are the drivers of their evolution? We concur with Culyer commentary on the need of learning from doing what works best and that a reflection is indeed needed to “enhance the fairness and legitimacy of HTA.”
Keywords
Decision-Making
Health Technology Assessment
Ethics
Patient and Public Involvement (PPI)
Multicriteria Approaches
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International Journal of Health Policy and Management
Volume 10, Issue 4
April 2021
Pages 228-231

  • Received Date 21 December 2019
  • Revised Date 18 March 2020
  • Accepted Date 24 March 2020
  • First Published Date 01 April 2021
  • Published Date 01 April 2021