European network for health technology assessment, EUnetHTA: planning, development, and implementation of a sustainable European network for health technology assessment.
OBJECTIVE
The European network on Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) aimed to produce tangible and practical results to be used in the various phases of health technology assessment and to establish a framework and processes to support this. This article presents the background, objectives, and organization of EUnetHTA, which involved a total of sixty-four partner organizations.


METHODS
Establishing an effective and sustainable structure for a transnational network involved many managerial, policy, and methodological tools, according to the objective of each task or Work Package. Transparency in organization, financial transactions, and decision making was a key principle in the management of the Project as was the commitment to appropriately involve stakeholders.


RESULTS
EUnetHTA activities resulted in a clear management and governance structure, efficient partnership, and transnational cooperation. The Project developed a model for sustainable continuation of the EUnetHTA Collaboration.


CONCLUSIONS
The EUnetHTA Project achieved its goals by producing a suite of practical tools, a strong network, and plans for continuing the work in a sustainable EUnetHTA Collaboration that facilitates and promotes the use of HTA at national and regional levels. Responsiveness to political developments in Europe should be balanced with maintaining a high level of ambition to promote independent, evidence-based information and well-tested tools for best practice based on a strong network of HTA institutions.
Kristensen
Finn Børlum
FB
National Board of Health, Copenhagen, Denmark and University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, DK 5000, Denmark. fbk@sst.dk
Mäkelä
Marjukka
M
Neikter
Susanna Allgurin
SA
Rehnqvist
Nina
N
Håheim
Lise Lund
LL
Mørland
Berit
B
Milne
Ruairidh
R
Nielsen
Camilla Palmhøj
CP
Busse
Reinhard
R
Lee-Robin
Sun Hae
SH
Wild
Claudia
C
Espallargues
Mireia
M
Chamova
Julia
J
D005062:European Union; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D019451:Information Management; D007391:International Cooperation; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D011640:Public Policy; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical / Q000458:organization & administration*