Is the planned and ongoing project (POP) database a suitable tool to reduce duplication in the process of assessing new health technologies in the European Union? Preliminary experience in the context of the EUnetHTA Joint Action Project Framework (2010-2012).
OBJECTIVE
The European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) Joint Action Project Framework, 2010-12, Work Package 7B (WP 7B), was aimed at facilitating collaboration between HTA agencies to avoid duplication of assessment efforts. A major task of WP 7B was to collect information on planned and ongoing (POP) projects by EUnetHTA agencies and to incorporate this information in a POP Database. We analyzed whether the Database served its intended purpose.


METHODS
A survey was sent to all fifty-seven EUnetHTA partners, complemented by telephone interviews with the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of HTA in Austria (lead institution). Furthermore, detailed documentation on the activities of the POP Database was provided to the research team at CAST (University of Southern Denmark) by the lead institution.


RESULTS
Forty-two of fifty-seven agencies (74 percent) responded to the survey. Eleven collaborations initiated by agencies themselves were reported. The scope of these collaborative activities was usually limited to information exchange on for example literature search protocols. A slight reduction of duplication of effort was documented. In addition, twelve collaborations at the full report level were initiated by the lead institution.


CONCLUSIONS
While the POP Database has the potential to reduce duplication of effort, this has not been realized during the 3-year period of the EUnetHTA Joint Action Project Framework, 2010-12. Further evidence needs to be gathered to determine whether the POP Database is effective and whether the benefits outweigh the resources required to maintain it.
Centre for Applied Health Services Research (CAST),University of Southern Denmark,Centre for Health Economics Research (COHERE),University of Southern Denmark,Department of Health,Technology and Services Research (HTSR),University of Twentehvondeling@health.sdu.dk.
Hindrik
H
Vondeling
Centre for Applied Health Services Research (CAST),University of Southern Denmarkmasa@cast.sdu.dk.
Marianne
M
Sandvei
D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000592:standards*; D004282:Documentation; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D020407:Internet; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical / Q000592:standards*
EUnetHTA Joint Action Project Framework 2010–12