OBJECTIVES: The importance of patient involvement (PI) in enhancing the quality, relevance and legitimacy of HTA is increasingly recognized. This research aimed to compare best practice guidelines and PI processes employed by long-standing HTA bodies, to suggest improvements to new HTA bodies such as the recently-formalized HTA Philippines.

METHODS: The process guidelines of HTA bodies in Europe (England, Scotland, France, Germany), North America (USA, Canada) and Asia-Pacific (Australia, Singapore, Taiwan) were reviewed. Supplementary searches of PubMed, Google Scholar and selected conference proceedings were conducted. Evidence was synthesized on: the timing and format of PI; level of patient representation; accessibility measures; patient input topics; and PI processes in medicinal technology and rare disease appraisals.

RESULTS: The HTA Philippines PI processes reflect global HTA practices and consensus guidelines in the diversity of inputting patient stakeholders, incorporation of both consultative and collaborative methods of PI, and range of patient input topics. Some global evidence gaps were identified. Notably, methodology for assessing patient input was scarce, revealing a need for transparent reporting on how assessors considered patient input in decision-making. Recommendations to improve PI in the Philippines include: using multichannel methods to reach diverse patients; addressing specific training needs (e.g. statistics for patients, lay-friendly writing for manufacturers); creating a HTA Philippines standing committee to formalize PI; adopting specialized stakeholder engagement meetings for terminal and rare conditions; and providing feedback to patients involved in the HTA process to improve future contributions. However, limited evidence on each action's impact and the lack of transparent reporting on patient input use make prioritizing recommendations challenging.

CONCLUSIONS: These recommendations form a framework for systemic process change in nascent HTA markets, evolving towards inclusive and sustained PI and transparent decision-making. HTA Philippines should prioritize actions based on their available resource, current performance in the PI area and the action’s potential impact.