OBJECTIVES : Given the forthcoming development of a Health Technology Assessment scheme for health technologies and pharmaceuticals, the objective of the analysis was to record perceptions of Patient Advocacy Groups (PAGs) on the potential role of patients and PAGs in HTA in Greece.

METHODS : In order to elicit participants’ perceptions, a consensus panel meeting consisting of 23 representatives of PAGs was held. A tele-voting procedure based on a structured questionnaire was carried out via a mobile numeric keyboard in a pre-determined time frame of 15 seconds. Voting was anonymous. The results of the first round of the voting were presented immediately to the experts. The experts commented over the results and when necessary, tele-voting was repeated in order to achieve consensus.

RESULTS : Of all participants 94% believe they do not have valid information on HTA from responsible public parties, while main sources of valid information were: conferences (95%), international PAGs (86%), and experts/scientists (76%). 76% evaluate PAGs’ ability/adequacy to participate in policy-making concerning HTA scheme formation as moderate or higher. For patients’ effective participation in HTA decision-making, higher value was given to their education on: treatment effects in terms of quality of life (4.82 out of 5), basic HTA terms (4.57) and moral issues of HTA (4.55). Concerning participation in HTA decision-making, the highest preference was given to: scientists e.g. epidemiologists and health economists (95%), patients’ representatives (86%), public health services providers (80%) and physicians’ representatives (70%). 55% strongly agree that patients should have opinion on issues concerning HTA, while 72% believe that patients’ opinions on HTA issues should be expressed through their inclusion in the process and voting right.

CONCLUSIONS : Patients’ and PAGs’ participation in HTA is considered important in the present analysis. Through proper education, their opinion could be proven beneficial, as recorded in the international experience.