Week 10

Question 1

What is HTA?

Answer 1

multidisciplinary process that summarises information about medical, social, economic, and ethical issues related to the use of a health technology in a systematic, transparaent, unbiased manner

Question 2

aim of HTA

Answer 2

to inform the formulation of safe, effective, health policies that are patient focused, and seek to achieve best value

Question 3

ethical paradox of HTA

Answer 3

intention: ethics has been a stated, constituent part of HTA since the inception in the 1970s
Reality: despite almost 40 years with repeated intentions only few hTA reports include ethical analyses
Result: HTA is often reduced to technological components
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Question 4

The moral imperative under HTA

Answer 4

• HTA is not just a calculation, it serves as a stewardship mechanism
  at the hospital level:
• imperative: responsible use of resources for the local community
• question: does this new surgical robot mean cutting nursing hours elsewhere?

Question 5

shaping the dilemma - key trad offs

Answer 5

• all HTA is a “balancing act” there is no single right answer, only justifiable one
  common dilemmas:
• individual vs collective: life saving drug for one vs public health program for thousands
• ## efficiency vs equity: maximising total health gains vs prioitizing

Question 6

political choice

Answer 6

• balancing a trade off is not a scientific calculation - it is a political choice
• evidence (RCTs, models) informs the decision - it does not make it

Question 7

what value should matter most in a public system?

Answer 7

1. maximising total health
2. innovation - (prioritising new tech)
3. fairness and equity
4. sustainability