OBJECTIVES: In Jordan, local health system characteristics and its objectives shape the healthcare decision-making of a country. However, the need for implementing evidence-based health policy decision received high priority in the country. The current study aims to shed light on local HTA implementation in Jordan.

METHODS: Rapid review covering the published scientific literature was conducted to explore HTA capacity building practices using both published and grey literature due to the limited number of publications about HTA activities in Jordan.

RESULTS: Establishment of Jordan regional chapter of ISPOR in 2008 was an important milestone towards capacity building at the national level. Additionally, mandating economic evaluation as a prerequisite for the introduction of new drugs into the Jordanian market in 2012 was an important step. King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC) has been an HTA pioneer through the establishment of a hospital-based HTA program in 2013. Later in 2019, an HTA department was established in the Jordanian Royal Medical Services. At the policy level, a national HTA Committee was formulated during 2019. The Committee was charged with studying the need for HTA and to develop a road map for its implementation and institutionalization. However, this was not Jordan’s first attempt at structuring and implementing HTA. Back in 2011, a national HTA committee was formed to increase the level of awareness and institutionalization of HTA with support of the World Health Organization. Unfortunately, the initiative was soon discontinued due to insufficient funding and the absence of clear HTA roadmap.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite Jordan has witness evolution in HTA implementation compared to the last decades, the country is still in the early phase of its HTA implementation. In the era of economic recession and the evolution of health technologies, there is an opportunity to strengthen the role of HTA in health policy decision in Jordan.