In Data We Trust

Published Oct 8, 2013
Nicosia, Cyprus – Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a multi-disciplinary policy analysis that assesses pharmaceuticals for their combined medical, economic, social and ethical implications. It has emerged as valuable tool for constraining pharmaceutical expenditure. Nevertheless, the expertise and time needed for each report are factors that stand as barriers to further dissemination. This is especially relevant in smaller countries such as Cyprus, which is facing a steadily increasing pharmaceutical budget. Researchers at the University of Cyprus set out to describe and analyze the current status of Health Technology Assessment in Cyprus. In the study, “A Framework for Applying Health Technology Assessment in Cyprus: Thoughts, Success Stories and Recommendations,” published in Value in Health Regional Issues, the authors describe the Cyprus Health Sector, the benefits of HTA and the challenges of establishing HTA in a small country. The conducted study proved that: “Rationality should be incorporated in health policy decision making. There is a clear need to maximize utility out of every cent that we invest in health. HTA is our tool to achieve this. Policy making is a complicated journey, it has to be founded on reliable facts, must incorporate uncertainty and avoid assumptions. HTA is emerging to provide solutions and consolidates quality, cost control and equitable access.” Panagiotis Petrou, MBA, PhD(c), Researcher, Open University of Cyprus and lead author on the study states, “Health is an investment, and as such, you have to maximize the return on investment. Currently, HTA is surfacing as the holy grail of rationality in health policy-making, allowing decision makers to capitalize on it. It can give simple answers to complex issues.”
Value in Health Regional Issues  (ISSN 2212-1099) is a scientific journal that encourages and enhances the science of pharmacoeconomic/health economic and health outcomes research and its use in health care decisions. The journal is published up to three times a year with one issue focusing on the Asia region, one issue focusing on the Latin America region, and one issue focusing on the Central & Eastern Europe, Western Asia and Africa regions. The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) is a nonprofit, international, educational and scientific organization that strives to increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and fairness of health care resource use to improve health.

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