Management of health technologies: An international view

Health technology includes not only equipment, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices but also surgical and medical procedures Most countries regulate drugs and devices by law, by payment, or by placement of services-a new, multidisciplinary research called health technology assessment assists policy makers on matters of the medical, economic, social, and ethical implications of the dissemination and use of health technology Health technology assessment synthesises the findings from clinical research and includes analysis of costs, cost effectiveness, and broader social aspects of health technology Most countries in the European Union have established agencies for health technology assessment to provide evidence based information to health policymakers