Health Technology Assessment In Turkey

The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a systematic assessment of the use of science and technology in the healthcare sector to ensure the correct and efficient use of resources.

HTA analyzes medicines, medical devices, surgical procedures and health care systems in terms of medical, social, economic and ethical aspects. For example; health technology assessment is conducted when a new drug is launched to the market. In this evaluation the equivalents of “that” drug in the market examined.

HTA supports pricing and reimbursement by making price-benefit analysis. HTA provides information and support on health services while creating process policies for authorities. Different opinions are taken about a topic from stakeholders related to HTA. With those views the authorities can make more accurate decisions.

Health Technology Assessment is expected to be customized, transparent, integrated, innovative, comprehensive and fair for each country. There are many different ways to do HTA. The most used of these methods is the price – QALY (Quality Adjusted Life Year)
QALY is a health index that provides time-related quality of life. While 0 QALY is equalivalent to death, 1 QALY is equalivalent to 1 year of excellent health. 5 QALY is, 5 years of excelletn healt for one person or 1 year of excellent life for 5 people.

With this method, the QALY value can be determined by fairly evaluating the price of the drug or operation effect identified.

Health Technology Assestments are made by Ministry of Health of Turkey Head of Health Technology Assestment Department. In order to be able to make the evaluation, firstly published reports about health technology assessment related to that subject are examined. Questionnaires are established according to the characteristics of health technology to be examined. Literature search for clinical evaluation is done and a related report is prepared.

After the report, the evaluation is completed by conducting the economic, social, ethical, institutional and legal examination of the health technology.*  Transparency is adopted as the basic principle for the correct and efficient completion of this process.

* T.C. Ministry of Health HTA Department Official Web Site, http://www.hta.gov.tr/