Session (CTI)

Purpose: The objectives of this session are to review the seven-year evolution of Japan’s Health Technology Assessment (HTA) system since its formal introduction in 2019, to understand the administrative and technical challenges encountered during its operation, and to provide the latest updates on policy reforms discussed at the Central Social Insurance Medical Council (Chuikyo). Description: Japan implemented its formal cost-effectiveness evaluation system in April 2019. Unlike the "gatekeeper" HTA models adopted in certain European countries, Japan utilizes HTA primarily for post-launch price adjustments. This session provides a multi-dimensional review of its progress. The session will begin with a brief introduction by the moderator, Prof. Akazawa, who will outline the session's objectives and the roadmap for the discussion (5 min). This will be followed by Prof. Komoto, who will trace the history from initial discussions at Chuikyo through the pilot phase to formal implementation, focusing on the political consensus-building and the design philosophy required to establish HTA in Japan (13 min). Prof. Ikeda will then elaborate on current operations, highlighting the technical appraisal process, and a summary of evaluation results to date (13 min). Dr. Kobayashi will present recent policy developments and future directions, covering recent trends in Chuikyo discussions regarding the expansion of HTA application and revisions to price adjustment mechanisms (13 min). Finally, moderated by Prof. Akazawa, the panel will discuss various impacts of the system, followed by a Q&A session (16 min). This session is intended for researchers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers interested in the current status and future of HTA in Japan.