HTAi 2008 :: Pre-Conference Workshops

Workshops 1, 2 and 6 are open to HTAi 2008 participants and non-participants alike. all other workshops are restricted to duly registered HTAi 2008 participants only.

1. SUPPORTING POLICY DEVELOPMENT IN GENETICS/GENOMICS: WHERE HTA, HSR, PUBLIC HEALTH AND ELSI RESEARCH MEET

9:00 to 17:00 • Registration fees: CAN$65 for HTAi 2008 participants
CAN$140 for non-participants

The translational gap between the development of new genetics/genomics research applications and their judicious introduction in clinical practice and public health has been widely recognized. Bridging this gap requires an interdisciplinary research effort. A closer collaboration is therefore needed between researchers from the fields of health technology assessment, health services research, public health and those actively involved in research into the ethical economic, legal and social issues.

The purpose of this workshop is to build up, through concrete examples and more conceptual presentations, an awareness of the points of convergence and the complementarities between the different fields of research and expertise. Presentations will cover the scope of potential applications of genomics research, under the following themes: genetic testing in the clinical setting, emerging technologies, screening, bio-banks, and policy challenges. Areas for further investigation and collaboration will also be explored at the last panel session through invited commentaries and a debate on the overall theme of the day.

The proposed programme involves key players from various jurisdictions and research communities, as well as representatives from national and international organizations. It is hoped that a more concerted research approach may emerge with relevance to the development of evidence informed policy in this field.

This workshop is organized by APOGEE-NET, a network to support policy in genetics and CanGeneTest Consortium.
For further information: genetics@htai2008.org

2. WALK THE TALK: HOW TO APPLY NEW DEVELOPMENTS OF
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT INTO THE HTA CONTEXT

9:00 to 16:00 • Registration fees: CAN$190 for HTAi 2008 participants - CAN$225 for non-participants

Maximum attendance: 80

The need for faster HTA production implicates new ways of systematic literature searching, which usually is quite time consuming. However, developments of tools and skills to meet the demands for a short time frame without decreasing quality and systematics, are not limited to the HTA environment only. Also within other areas of health care, information specialists and librarians develop new tools to help improving search and documentation methods. Based on six presentations describing recent international developments, research and examples within two themes: “Searching and filtering” and “Reporting and documenting”, the workshop participants will discuss how these tools and experiences could be implemented into HTA information management.

This workshop is organized by the special Interest Group Information Resources of HTAi (IRG-HTAi).

3. SEPARATING THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF.
HORIZON SCANNING FOR EMERGING HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES–
TOPIC IDENTIFICATION, FILTRATION AND PRIORITISATION
(A HANDS-ON WORKSHOP)

The early identification, prioritisation and assessment of emerging health technologies are essential parts of the health technology assessment and policy decision-making process. Our workshop will be a hands-on experience for people who are interested but not experienced in horizon scanning activities and who would like to learn more about the processes of identification and filtration of significant developments, and prioritisation of topics for assessment or policy action.

• Identify emerging health technologies from a range of sources
• Discuss and develop filtration and prioritisation criteria
• Apply these criteria to a number of pre-selected emerging technologies.

During the workshop short presentations will be given on:
• Information sources for horizon scanning
• The principal stages of early identification and assessment
• Operational difficulties and issues with working at an early stage in the evaluation cycle
• International activities including EuroScan.

The workshop will be facilitated by experienced members of the English National Horizon Scanning Centre (NHSC), the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) and the Australia and New Zealand Horizon Scanning Network (ANZHSN).

4. DESAFIOS PARA A IMPLANTAÇÃO DE UMA POLITICA DE AVALIAÇÃO E GESTÃO DE TECNOLOGIAS EM SAUDE NO BRASIL

9:00-12:00 • Free admission • Registration required
Maximum attendance: 80

No Brasil, o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) é uma rede regionalizada e hierarquizada de ações e serviços, gerenciados pelas esferas Federal, Estadual e Municipal. Seus fundamentos são: universalidade, equidade e integralidade. Funciona com orçamento restrito, para atender população de cerca de 190 milhões, com perfil epidemiológico de sobreposição de doenças transmissíveis e crônico-degenarativas.

A ATS é recente no Brasil. O uso inadequado de tecnologias, a incorporação acrítica e as pressões do Judiciário geraram a necessidade de o Ministério da Saúde construir a Política Nacional de Gestão de Tecnologias em Saude (PNGTS). O objetivo é promover o uso de evidências cientificas e de análises econômicas na tomada de decisões sobre a inserção e o monitoramento de tecnologias, considerando os diferentes contextos do SUS.

Os objetivos deste Workshop são discutir os desafios (sistema de governança e abordagens para o envolvimento de profissionais, consumidores e das esferas regionais e locais de gestão) e oportunidades (participação social e necessidade de aumentar a qualidade da atenção à saúde) para implementar uma Política em Gestão de Tecnologias em Saúde; trocar experiências e identificar estratégias para aprimorar seu desenvolvimento.

CHALLENGES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF A POLICY OF EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES IN BRAZIL

In Brazil, the Public Health System (SUS) is a regionalized and hierarchized network of initiatives and services, managed by federal, state and municipal authorities. It is based on the principles of universality, equity and completeness. SUS works with a relatively small budget to attend to a population of almost 190 million with complex epidemiological characteristics of chronic and infectious diseases.

HTA is quite recent in Brazil. Inadequate use and adoption of technologies without explicit criteria as well as pressures from judicial authorities prompted the Brazilian Ministry of Health to formulate the National Policy on Health Technology Management (PNGTS). Its aim is to promote the use of scientific evidence and economic analysis in decision making on adoption and monitoring of health technologies, taking into account the diversity of the contexts of intervention of SUS.

The objectives of this Workshop are to discuss the challenges (governance system and approaches for involving professionals, consumers and managers at the regional and local levels) and opportunities (social participation and need to increase the quality of healthcare) of implementing a Policy on Health Technology Management; exchange experiences and identify strategies to improve its development. The Workshop includes a presentation of the Brazilian public health system and the actual proposal for a PNGTS. Then, it will discuss the challenges, opportunities and strategies for the implementation of the PNGTS, with the participation of the audience.

This workshop is organized by Departamento de ciência e Tecnologia of the Ministry of Health of Brazil. (Department of Science and Technology, Secretariat of Science, Technology and Sstrategic Inputs, Ministry of Health of Brazil).

The purpose of the workshop is to explore different approaches to transparency and accountability in drug reimbursement processes. The session will start with an overview of the key stages of drug reimbursement processes (e.g. drug evaluations, expert recommendations and drug plan decisions). Participants will learn about the similarities and differences between different systems around the world and will have the opportunity to work through an example of a reimbursement decision. The second half of the session will focus on approaches for transparency and accountability in drug funding processes and will include a general discussion of issues and options.

This workshop is organized by Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH).

This course offers a lively introduction to HTA for those who are new to the field, as well as for those who seek a refresher course. Developed for international participants and updated annually, this course has been a popular feature of HTA meetings for more than 10 years. This pre-conference workshop will strengthen understanding and participation in other sessions of HTAi 2008. Time is included for questions and discussion. Attendees will receive copies of the workshop materials. This course will emphasize adapting HTA approaches for all types of health technologies and across international settings. The main topics to be covered include:
1. HTA definitions, purposes, and roles in health care policy
2. Health technology: types, applications, lifecycle
3. Factors affecting technology overuse, underuse
4. Properties and impacts assessed in HTA
Technical performance
• Health outcomes
• Quality of life and functional status
• Economic
5. HTA methods and trends
• Primary methods
• Secondary/synthetic methods
• Economic analyses
6. Interpreting strength of evidence
7. Priority setting, timing of assessment, and the moving target problem
8. A framework for conducting HTA
9. Sources of evidence and expertise
• Bibliographic databases (peer-reviewed and gray literature)
• International networks/cooperation
10. Current HTA trends and emerging challenges

6. IMPLANTATION DES UNITES D’EVALUATION DES TECHNOLOGIES DE LA SANTE DANS LES CENTRES HOSPITALIERS UNIVERSITAIRES DANS LA FRANCOPHONIE

14:00-17:00 • Registration fees: CAN$45 for HTAi 2008 participants- CAN$135 for non-participants
Maximum attendance: 80

Cet atelier pratique d’une demi-journée permettra aux participants de connaître les modèles d’organisation de l’évaluation des technologies de la santé développés dans les centres hospitaliers universitaires de la francophonie (européens et québécois). De plus, les panélistes partageront avec les participants leurs expériences, leurs stratégies, les facteurs de réussite ainsi que les retombées et perspectives concernant la mise en place d’une structure pour l’évaluation des technologies de la santé.

SETTING UP HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT UNITS IN TEACHING HOSPITALS IN FRENCH-SPEAKING JURISDICTIONS

This hands-on, half-a-day workshop will enable participants to learn about the various organizational models of Health Technology Assessment developed by teaching hospitals in French-speaking jurisdictions (Europe and Québec). Panellists will share their experience, strategies and success factors with the participants, and will discuss impacts and prospects of setting up a Health Technology Assessment structure.

This workshop is organized by agence d’évaluation des technologies et des modes d’intervention en santé (AETMIS).

7. EVALUACION DE TECNOLOGIAS SANITARIAS EN LATINOAMERICA: PERTINENCIA DE LA CREACION DE UNA RED EN EVALUACION DE TECNOLOGIAS SANITARIAS-ETS- PARA LA REGION

Mediante este taller los asistentes podrán identificar las necesidades existentes en el campo de la evaluación de tecnologías sanitarias en Latinoamérica, así como visualizar de forma general la realidad latinoamericana (Agencias de ETS, productos). Los asistentes podrán presentar sus experiencias personales en el ámbito y formular medidas para resolver las barreras existentes. Se discutirá la pertinencia de la creación de una RED de ETS Latinoamericana.

• Presentar una revisión general de los resultados de la encuesta de evaluación de tecnologías sanitarias (ETS) realizada en Latinoamérica
• Reconocer las barreras que impiden un buen funcionamiento de la evaluación de tecnologías sanitariasen América Latina y conocer el trabajo y los productos de diferentes agencias en la región
• Promover el intercambio de ideas y experiencias sobre el trabajo en ETS que se realiza en los países hispano-parlantes
• Presentar los pasos iniciales y explorar las oportunidades para la creación de una RED de ETS para Latinoamérica.

HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT IN LATIN AMERICA: HAS THE TIME COME FOR AN HTA NETWORK?

The participants will be able to identify the existing needs in the field of Health Technology Assessment in Latin America as well as to visualize, in a general way, the Latin American reality (HTA Agencies, actors and products). Participants will exchange work experiences in their context and formulate measures to solve the existing barriers. The appropriateness of establishing a Latin American Network in HTA will be discussed.

The specific objectives of this pre-conference workshop are:
• To display the results of the INAHTA survey on HTA needs in Latin America
• To recognize the barriers that prevent a goodoperation of HTA in Latin America and to describe the work and different products of the agencies in the region
• To promote the exchange of ideas and experiences on HTA production in Spanishspeaking countries
• To explore the opportunities of establishing a Latin America HTA Network and if pertinent, initiate its first steps.

This workshop is organized by Agence d’évaluation des technologies et des modes d’intervention en santé (AETMIS).

8. ENLIGHTENED DEVELOPMENT AND INFORMED DECISION MAKING FOR MEDICAL DEVICES TO IMPROVE USER ACCESS

14:00-17:00 • Free admission • Registration required
Maximum attendance: 60

Medical devices are typically brought to market at high risk by relatively small companies. Whilst their value to users and service providers is often poorly established, medical devices are increasingly subject to the scrutiny of regulatory agencies requiring (various levels of) evidence regarding clinical and safety aspects as well as cost effectiveness of new technologies. This situation presents some real challenges in all stages of device development and after market launch.

In this workshop the current role as well as the future potential of HTA to scientifically support well-informed and timely decision making in the rapidly evolving market of medical devices is discussed from the perspective of users, regulators, industry and academics. Specific questions that are addressed include:

1) HTA in the context of multiple users: how to deal with multiple and varying user needs in development and assessment of medical devices?

2) The impact of contextual factors on HTA of medical technologies: an example from the field of healthcare safety

3) Improving user access to valuable medical devices by integrating HTA within the device development cycle

4) The role of HTA in introducing new technologies in a context of (various) reimbursement and procurement regulations.

This workshop is organized by Multidisciplinary assessment of Technology centre in Health care
(MATCH)