TY - JOUR

T1 - European network for health technology assessment, EUnetHTA: planning, development, and implementation of a sustainable European network for health technology assessment

AU - Kristensen, Finn Børlum

AU - Mäkelä, Marjukka

AU - Neikter, Susanna Allgurin

AU - Rehnqvist, Nina

AU - Håheim, Lise Lund

AU - Mørland, Berit

AU - Milne, Ruairidh

AU - Nielsen, Camilla Palmhøj

AU - Busse, Reinhard

AU - Lee-Robin, Sun Hae

AU - Wild, Claudia

AU - Espallargues, Mireia

AU - Chamova, Julia

AU - European network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA)

N1 - Keywords: European Union; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Evidence-Based Medicine; Information Management; International Cooperation; Program Development; Public Policy; Technology Assessment, Biomedical

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - OBJECTIVES: The European network on Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) aimed to produce tangible and practical results to be used in the various phases of health technology assessment and to establish a framework and processes to support this. This article presents the background, objectives, and organization of EUnetHTA, which involved a total of sixty-four partner organizations. METHODS: Establishing an effective and sustainable structure for a transnational network involved many managerial, policy, and methodological tools, according to the objective of each task or Work Package. Transparency in organization, financial transactions, and decision making was a key principle in the management of the Project as was the commitment to appropriately involve stakeholders. RESULTS: EUnetHTA activities resulted in a clear management and governance structure, efficient partnership, and transnational cooperation. The Project developed a model for sustainable continuation of the EUnetHTA Collaboration. CONCLUSIONS: The EUnetHTA Project achieved its goals by producing a suite of practical tools, a strong network, and plans for continuing the work in a sustainable EUnetHTA Collaboration that facilitates and promotes the use of HTA at national and regional levels. Responsiveness to political developments in Europe should be balanced with maintaining a high level of ambition to promote independent, evidence-based information and well-tested tools for best practice based on a strong network of HTA institutions.

AB - OBJECTIVES: The European network on Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) aimed to produce tangible and practical results to be used in the various phases of health technology assessment and to establish a framework and processes to support this. This article presents the background, objectives, and organization of EUnetHTA, which involved a total of sixty-four partner organizations. METHODS: Establishing an effective and sustainable structure for a transnational network involved many managerial, policy, and methodological tools, according to the objective of each task or Work Package. Transparency in organization, financial transactions, and decision making was a key principle in the management of the Project as was the commitment to appropriately involve stakeholders. RESULTS: EUnetHTA activities resulted in a clear management and governance structure, efficient partnership, and transnational cooperation. The Project developed a model for sustainable continuation of the EUnetHTA Collaboration. CONCLUSIONS: The EUnetHTA Project achieved its goals by producing a suite of practical tools, a strong network, and plans for continuing the work in a sustainable EUnetHTA Collaboration that facilitates and promotes the use of HTA at national and regional levels. Responsiveness to political developments in Europe should be balanced with maintaining a high level of ambition to promote independent, evidence-based information and well-tested tools for best practice based on a strong network of HTA institutions.

U2 - 10.1017/S0266462309990754

DO - 10.1017/S0266462309990754

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 20030898

VL - 25 Suppl 2

SP - 107

EP - 116

JO - International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care

JF - International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care

SN - 0266-4623

ER -