Health technology assessment in Mexico.
OBJECTIVE
The history of health technology assessment (HTA) in Mexico is examined, starting with the efforts to incorporate this topic into the policy agenda and culminating with the recent creation of a specialized public agency.


METHODS
Information was gathered through a bibliographic search and interviews with actors involved in HTA in Mexico.


RESULTS
HTA efforts were developed in Mexico since the mid-1980s with the participation both of academics and of policy makers, a relationship that eventually led to the creation of the Center for Technological Excellence within the Ministry of Health.


CONCLUSIONS
Institutionalization of HTA in resource-constrained settings requires the development of a critical mass of researchers involved in this field, the implementation of information efforts, and the establishment of strong relationships between HTA experts and policy makers.
Gómez-Dantés
Octavio
O
Center for Research in Population Health, National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad 655, Santa María Ahuacatitlán, 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. ocogomez@yahoo.com
Frenk
Julio
J
D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000266:history; D006077:Government Agencies; D006291:Health Policy; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008800:Mexico; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical / Q000266:history*