OBJECTIVES: To compare whether use of EUnetHTA joint assessment has increased between joint actions 2 (JA2) and 3 (JA3).

METHODS: A baseline was created from the JA2 project evaluation and followed up in April 2018 to capture use of the reports after the end of JA2. Data about uptake in JA3 is collected on an ongoing basis using an online feedback survey.

RESULTS: As of June 2020, data are available for 27 assessments (7 for pharmaceuticals (PT) and 20 for other technologies (OT)). There are 298 examples of use of JA3 assessments, of which 50% describe use of the reports in HTA assessment procedures. 15 countries reported using PT assessments in JA2, in JA3 this has risen to 19. For PT assessments published for more than 6 months, the median use in assessment procedures is 14.5 (lowest 6 and highest 19). In JA2 the median use was 6.5 (lowest 1 and highest 13). For OT 13 countries reported use in JA2 and this has risen to 17 in JA3. For OT assessments published for more than 6 months, the median uses in assessment procedures is 4 (lowest 2 and highest 11). In JA2 the median use was 6.5 (lowest 5 and highest 13).

CONCLUSIONS: In JA3 there has been increased implementation and an increased number of countries using PT assessments. Implementation of OT assessments is currently lower in JA3 than in JA2, but the number of countries using these assessments is higher. The main reasons for increased use in PT assessments were improved timeliness and relevance. Reasons for lower use of OT assessments include topic and scope relevance, limited agency capacity for adaptations, newly developing processes, challenges with identifying recipients of OT HTA, short follow up and wide variation in when OT HTA is carried out in Europe.