title: European network for health technology assessment, EUnetHTA: planning, development, and implementation of a sustainable European network for health technology assessment.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: National Board of Health, Copenhagen, Denmark and University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, DK 5000, Denmark. fbk@sst.dk
authors.forename: Finn Børlum
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: Marjukka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mäkelä
authors.forename: Susanna Allgurin
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Neikter
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rehnqvist
authors.forename: Lise Lund
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Håheim
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mørland
authors.forename: Ruairidh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Milne
authors.forename: Camilla Palmhøj
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Busse
authors.forename: Sun Hae
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee-Robin
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: Mireia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Espallargues
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chamova
mesh_terms: 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*