Kartlegging og drøfting av ulike mini-HTA-systemer internasjonalt

Mini-HTA is a tool designed to support evidence-based processes when introducing new health technologies at the hospital level. Mini-HTA consists of a form or a checklist that is used to assess efficacy, safety, costs and organisational consequences before a new health technology is introduced into clinical practice or an existing health technology is phased out.

The purpose of this work was to investigate various mini-HTA systems internationally. We identified eight mini-HTA systems from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Sweden and the United States.

The comparison of the eight systems shows that it is important to consider the following elements when introducing a system of mini-HTA:

• The system should be anchored in the management
• Should the use of mini-HTA be mandatory?
• Who should prepare mini-HTAs (clinicians or a local HTA-unit)?
• What kind of support services should be established?
• In what cases should one conduct mini-HTA?
• How to make decisions about the introduction of new health technologies?
• System for monitoring the performance of new health technologies
• How broad should the mini-HTAs and decisions be made public?

Experiences from the identified mini-HTA systems and evaluations of their function are used to develop a Norwegian mini-HTA version and to pilot a project for mini-HTA in the Western Norway Regional Health Authority.