European network for health technology assessment, EUnetHTA: planning, development, and implementation of a sustainable European network for health technology assessment

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Finn Børlum Kristensen
  • Mäkelä, Marjukka
  • Susanna Allgurin Neikter
  • Nina Rehnqvist
  • Lise Lund Håheim
  • Berit Mørland
  • Ruairidh Milne
  • Camilla Palmhøj Nielsen
  • Reinhard Busse
  • Sun Hae Lee-Robin
  • Claudia Wild
  • Mireia Espallargues
  • Julia Chamova
  • European network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA)
OBJECTIVES: The European network on Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) aimed to produce tangible and practical results to be used in the various phases of health technology assessment and to establish a framework and processes to support this. This article presents the background, objectives, and organization of EUnetHTA, which involved a total of sixty-four partner organizations. METHODS: Establishing an effective and sustainable structure for a transnational network involved many managerial, policy, and methodological tools, according to the objective of each task or Work Package. Transparency in organization, financial transactions, and decision making was a key principle in the management of the Project as was the commitment to appropriately involve stakeholders. RESULTS: EUnetHTA activities resulted in a clear management and governance structure, efficient partnership, and transnational cooperation. The Project developed a model for sustainable continuation of the EUnetHTA Collaboration. CONCLUSIONS: The EUnetHTA Project achieved its goals by producing a suite of practical tools, a strong network, and plans for continuing the work in a sustainable EUnetHTA Collaboration that facilitates and promotes the use of HTA at national and regional levels. Responsiveness to political developments in Europe should be balanced with maintaining a high level of ambition to promote independent, evidence-based information and well-tested tools for best practice based on a strong network of HTA institutions.
Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care
Volume25 Suppl 2
Pages (from-to)107-16
Number of pages9
ISSN0266-4623
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

Bibliographical note

Keywords: European Union; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Evidence-Based Medicine; Information Management; International Cooperation; Program Development; Public Policy; Technology Assessment, Biomedical

ID: 21184415