Web-based toolkit to facilitate European collaboration on evidence generation on promising health technologies.
BACKGROUND
Several countries have developed policy frameworks allowing timely access to promising health technologies on the condition that additional evidence is generated. However, an important barrier to evidence generation is the lack of structured collaboration among health technology assessment (HTA) agencies.


OBJECTIVE
One of the aims of Work Package 7 (WP7) of the European network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) Project was to determine the types of structured collaboration that could facilitate evidence generation and to develop a Web-based toolkit to support such collaboration.


METHODS
Collaboration modalities were defined by all WP7 Partners. Initial emphasis was on information sharing. Standardized forms for information sharing were developed and tested. An information technology development phase followed with the creation of the Web-based toolkit (Web site).


RESULTS
Three levels of collaboration were agreed on: (i) sharing information, (ii) coordinated action, and (iii) joint action. The Web site allows access to structured and standardized forms for requesting information, posting information in response to a request, and posting information spontaneously. An online database contains all of the information requested or posted. Pilot tests on twenty-one promising technologies were satisfactory.


CONCLUSIONS
This new Web site for sharing information on evidence generation should help countries reach robust decisions on the timely adoption of promising health technologies. It will only become fully operational if EUnetHTA Partners supply relevant, accurate, and updated information, and regularly use the Web site.
Quentin
Fabienne
F
French National Authority for Health, Saint-Denis La Plaine CEDEX F-93218, France. f.quentin@has-sante.fr
Carbonneil
Cédric
C
Moty-Monnereau
Céline
C
Berti
Elena
E
Goettsch
Wim
W
Lee-Robin
Sun Hae
SH
D020811:Biomedical Technology; D005060:Europe; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007391:International Cooperation; D020407:Internet