On logistic factors influencing Health Technology Assessment (HTA)

none3The core scope of health systems is to improve health and quality of life of populations they serve. Decisions are required on what kind of interventions should be offered, the way they are organized and how they should be provided in accordance with available resources, while, at the same time, respecting people’s expectations. As a consequence, decision-makers need information about the available options and their potential consequences [1]. Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a multi-dimensional and multi-disciplinary approach for the analysis of the effects following the implementation of an innovation in the health field. Specifically, the study considers effects on problems that directed patients to the use of the aforementioned innovations, along with social, organizational, economic, ethic and legal related aspects emerging during their entire life cycle. Innovations analysed include prevention and rehabilitation, vaccines, pharmaceuticals, devices, medical and surgical procedures, along with systems within which health is protected and maintained [2]. International Agencies executing HTA projects are grouped in INAHTA (International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment), operating since 1993 and now counting up to 53 Members coming from 29 Countries. INAHTA incentives meetings among Members in order to increment collaboration, information sharing and effectiveness of HTA projects executed, that are as more interesting as more based on evidence. Hence, a decisive step in the formulation of HTA is the selection of the parameters that will lead the evaluation, that is, how the impact of the intervention on the selected aspects is going to be measured. For each of the aspects to be evaluated, relevant and valid parameters should be chosen [3]. In this paper logistic factors influencing HTA of a magnetic resonance diagnostic device, strictly installable in a hospital or in a medical centre, are analysed and compared with those characterising a telemedicine service.mixedGAMBERINI R.; REGATTIERI A.; RIMINI B.GAMBERINI R.; REGATTIERI A.; RIMINI B