Health technology assessments and their roles in public Health policy

Purpose of review: Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a multidisciplinary practice that summarizes information about the medical, social, economic, and ethical issues related to the use of a health technology in a systematic, transparent, and balanced manner. Health technologies include drugs, medical devices, procedures, and systems used in healthcare. The aim of this review is to present a snapshot on its uses, methods and current challenges to inform future research. Recent findings: HTA has been instrumental in identifying health priorities, monitor trends, resource allocation, policy development, program planning and evaluation, health disparities, emergency preparedness, advocacy and community engagement. It can also be used in research and health systems comparisons. Several countries have set up specific agencies for HTA to inform their decision making and adjusting the current tools to address their needs by developing specific methods suitable for their context. Summary: The advantages and disadvantages of health assessment technology are interconnected, and many of the disadvantages can be mitigated with proper planning, training, and effective technology implementation. The use of health assessment technology should be guided by a commitment to patient safety, data security, and equitable healthcare access.