OBJECTIVES: Health Economics and Outcomes Research is increasingly used in decision-making in Denmark. In that connection, the Danish Health Technology Council (DHTC) was established in 2021 as a national HTA organization. The primary objective of DHTC is to make recommendations on health technologies across healthcare services. This abstract describes the importance of evidence rigor in the nexus between science and policymaking.

METHODS: DHTC carries out HTAs with recommendations concerning the use of health technologies, on behalf of the Danish regions. DHTC evaluates new and widely used health technologies. The subject field is broad and includes medical devices, treatment courses and diagnostics etc. The aim is to improve quality, ensure equality, and reduce financial pressure. However, a certain level of evidence and documentation for outcomes and costs is required for DHTC to initiate an HTA. In contrast to other HTA organizations, DHTC HTAs always touch upon four perspectives: clinical effectiveness and safety, patient perspective, organizational implications, and health economics.

RESULTS: In 2023 the first recommendations were made by the Council; three negative recommendations and one positive recommendation. Common for the HTAs was that some perspectives had sparse evidence. The published, peer-reviewed clinical - and qualitative evidence of medical devices is lacking in an international context, which was clearly stated in DHTCs completed HTAs. The four perspectives provide a systematic, 360-degree view of the technology which provides a well-founded basis for decision-making but the decision basis of HTAs needs a greater scientific focus to meet the ideals of scientific rigor to be sufficient in national policymaking.

CONCLUSIONS: It is found necessary to expound four perspectives for decision-makers to be able to make sound and informed recommendations. For decision-making, concerning health technologies, more scientific focus is crucial for optimal connection between science and policymaking.