Environmental Considerations in HTA: Can HTA Bodies Contribute to Environmental Sustainability?

Speaker(s)

Mansinho JN1, Brogaard N2, Haddad R3, M. A4, Zdunek D3, Constandse T5, Mathur R6, Hahn-Pedersen JH7
1Novo Nordisk, Copenhagen, Soborg, Denmark, 2Novo Nordisk, Søborg, 84, Denmark, 3IQVIA, Paris, Paris, France, 4IQVIA, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, 5IQVIA, Amsterdam, NH, Netherlands, 6IQVIA, London, LON, UK, 7Novo Nordisk, Soborg, 84, Denmark

OBJECTIVES: The healthcare sector is a major contributor to global carbon emissions and environmental degradation, yet sustainability criteria have not been widely incorporated in health technology assessments (HTAs). This study aims to examine the current acceptability of environmental evidence in value assessment frameworks and how this might evolve in the future.

METHODS: A comprehensive desk research was conducted to identify examples of payer and HTA demand for environmental evidence. We initiated the analyses with 50,000+ reports using IQVIA HTA Accelerator then focused on HTA agencies in 8 core countries (Canada, UK, France, Germany, US, Sweden, Norway, Denmark) to identify if and how environmental evidence considerations have been included. 11 former HTA professionals provided additional insights through in-depth telephone interviews (UK = 3, Germany = 2, France = 2, and Canada = 4).

RESULTS: Analysis identified 3 HTA reports (1 INESSS, 2 CADTH) and 26 additional relevant publications discussing the importance of environmental evidence and possible methodologies to incorporate it in HTA setting. While 82% of the interviewees acknowledged low utilization of environmental evidence in HTAs, 45% anticipated its relevance to increase in the future with the majority (73%) also emphasizing the need to develop clear guidance for inclusion. The UK is expected to lead in prioritizing environmental considerations in HTA especially if environmental evidence can be translated in economic value. It is likely that partnerships between academia and industry will shape the future by developing frameworks for standardizing and quantifying data.

CONCLUSIONS: The inclusion and significance of environmental evidence for payers/HTA is currently low, but it is expected to gradually increase. There is still a need for more guidance on what environmental evidence to collect and how it should be incorporated in assessments. Environmental evidence is more likely to be incorporated into HTAs if its impact can be translated into tangible economic benefits.

Code

HTA281

Topic

Health Policy & Regulatory, Health Technology Assessment

Topic Subcategory

Decision & Deliberative Processes, Pricing Policy & Schemes, Reimbursement & Access Policy, Value Frameworks & Dossier Format

Disease

No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas