Health technology assessment in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria

The European Journal of Health Economics volume 15, pages13–25(2014)Cite this article

Abstract

This paper describes and discusses the development and use of health technology assessment (HTA) in five Central and Eastern European countries (CEE): Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. It provides a general snapshot of HTA policies in the selected CEE countries to date by focusing on country case-studies based on document analysis and expert opinion. It offers an overview of similarities and differences between the individual CEE countries and discusses in detail the role of HTA by assessing its formalization and institutionalization, standardization of methodology, the use of HTA in practice and the degree of professionalization of HTA in the region. It finds that HTA has been to some extent implemented in all five countries studied, with methodologies in accordance with international standards, but that challenges remain when it comes to the role of HTA in health care decision-making as well as to human resource capacities of the countries. This paper suggests that coming years will show whether CEE countries develop adequate national analytical capacity to assess and appraise technologies in the context of local need and affordability, instead of using HTA as a mere administrative procedure to fulfill (inter)national requirements. Finally, suggestions are provided to strengthen HTA in CEE countries through cooperation, mutual learning, a common accreditation of HTA bodies and increased network building among CEE HTA experts.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Prof. Tomasz Pasierski, Head of the Cardiology and Cardiovascular Diseases Unit at the Specialist Hospital in Miedzylesie, Department of Bioethics in the Medical University of Warsaw and Head of the Transparency Board of AHTAPol for his invaluable comments on drug safety perception in reimbursement decision-making in Poland and to Dr. József Gajdácsi, Deputy Director General, Dr. Péter Varga, Head of Analysis, Medical Expertise and Controlling, National Health Insurance Fund Administration, Hungary and Gabriella Jóna, Head of TAHD, Hungary for their helpful comments and contribution.

Proofreading of the manuscript was supported by the TÁMOP 4.2.2./B-10/1-2010-0023 project.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Economics, Corvinus University of Budapest, Fővám tér 8., 1093, Budapest, Hungary

    László Gulácsi & Fanni Rencz

  2. Department of Social Medicine, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Alexandru M. Rotar & Niek S. Klazinga

  3. Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 61, Warsaw, Poland

    Maciej Niewada

  4. HealthQuest Consulting Company, 63 Mickiewicza Street, 01-625, Warsaw, Poland

    Maciej Niewada

  5. Department of Public Policy, Central European University, 1051 Budapest, Nádor utca 9, Budapest, Hungary

    Olga Löblová

  6. Department of Social Pharmacy and Pharmacoeconomics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Guenka Petrova

  7. Institute for Health Insurance, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Mária u. 5-7., 7621, Pecs, Hungary

    Imre Boncz

Authors
  1. László Gulácsi
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  2. Alexandru M. Rotar
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  3. Maciej Niewada
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  4. Olga Löblová
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  5. Fanni Rencz
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  6. Guenka Petrova
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  7. Imre Boncz
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  8. Niek S. Klazinga
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to László Gulácsi.

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Gulácsi, L., Rotar, A.M., Niewada, M. et al. Health technology assessment in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. Eur J Health Econ 15, 13–25 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-014-0590-8

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Keywords

  • Health technology assessment
  • Bulgaria
  • Czech Republic
  • Hungary
  • Poland
  • Romania

JEL Classification

  • I 180