OBJECTIVES: Since the creation of the National Committee for Health Technology Incorporation in the Brazilian Health System (CONITEC), a new phase started to the public Brazilian Health System (SUS): a continuous updating of the system based on health technology assessment. CONITEC was created by federal law in 2012 and it is responsible for advising the Ministry of Health regarding the incorporation or disinvestment of health technologies. The whole process involves a strong interaction with society, including the composition of the committee, which counts with participation of the National Health Council. The objective of this study was to describe the results of CONITEC in five years of operation. METHODS: This is a retrospective descriptive study, based on information from database (period 2012-2016) and CONITEC's website. RESULTS: Since 2012, CONITEC assessed 461 technologies, including drugs (294), health products (68) and procedures (99): 260 assessment requests came from SUS agencies and institutions and the other 201 requests from pharmaceutical companies, medical societies, patient associations and the judiciary bodies. In this period, there were 145 public consultations, during which were received more than 20,000 contributions from the society. The average time for evaluation was 144 days. The committee recommended the incorporation of 168 technologies into SUS, the disinvestment of 31 and was unfavorable to the incorporation of 73, generating a budgetary impact of approximately R$ 2.5 billion. CONCLUSIONS: From 2012-2016, CONITEC tripled the average of annual incorporation of new technologies compared to the period 2006-2011. In this process, it was necessary to assess efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of technologies, generating positive results for the expansion of access, health gains for patients and sustainability for the system. It should be considered that the use of evidence for decision making strengthens transparency in public management and development of active processes of information, communication and social participation.