An informative session at this year’s DIA meeting gave an overview of the European Commission’s proposal for mandatory centralization of HTAs, together with an update on the initiative which provides for joint HTA and pricing negotiations between the five Beneluxa countries.
To stimulate cooperation between health technology assessment (HTA) bodies and to simplify procedures, and thus help avoid duplication of effort, the European Commission has proposed a Directive for the establishment of joint clinical health technology assessments at the EU level. This builds on work initiated by the European Network for Health Technology Assessment, EUnetHTA across-border network that was set up to promote collaboration and a harmonisation of approach between HTA bodies in the EU.