Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Although health equity, defined as fairness in the distribution of benefits, harms, and access, particularly among underserved or disadvantaged populations, is increasingly recognized as an important aspect in health technology assessment (HTA), its role in HTA evaluations remains inconsistent and methodologically underdeveloped^1,2,3. This study examines how health equity is addressed in current HTA evaluations. More specifically, it focuses on how the inclusion of health equity is defined, which methodologies are used to integrate health equity into evaluations, and what role health equity plays in the evaluation process.
METHODS: A review-based analysis was conducted using publicly available HTA guideline documents from central HTA bodies across Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Aspects related to health equity considered in HTA processes were identified and assessed in terms of which aspects of health equity were included, guidance for the methodology to be used, and role within the evaluation processes.
RESULTS: Health equity was found to be commonly recognized but inconsistently considered aspect of HTA evaluation across the HTA bodies. HTA bodies primarily considered health equity in relation to disparities in health outcomes, access to healthcare, and unmet treatment need for treatment. When health equity was considered, it was most often included in the evaluation as an optional analysis alongside the core base-case evaluation. In addition, there was limited methodological guidance on how health equity should be included in the evaluations.
CONCLUSIONS: Although health equity is widely acknowledged by HTA bodies, its inclusion in HTA evaluations as well as methodological guidance on how health equity should be included remain inconsistent. More structured and transparent approaches, including the development of robust quantitative methods, are needed to support the systematic incorporation of health equity in HTA and support more equal healthcare decision-making.