[HTA goes Europe: European collaboration on joint assessment and methodological issues becomes reality].
BACKGROUND
The standardisation of European HTA and thus the reduction of redundancies require clearly defined processes and methods. The HTA Core Model®, a tool developed by the European Network EUnetHTA, is intended to ensure the transparent production of standardised and high-quality assessments in international collaboration.


METHODS
The present paper describes the experience with already published EUnetHTA assessments as well as possibilities for national/local adaptations of these assessments. The integration of jointly developed methods in routine processes of individual HTA agencies will be explained on the basis of a selected example. Further methodological initiatives in Europe will be presented.


RESULTS
So far, EUnetHTA has published four rapid assessments conducted through European cooperation between 6-9 HTA institutes during Joint Action 2 (2012-2015). Two assessments dealt with pharmaceuticals and two with non-pharmaceutical interventions. The overall duration of these assessments ranged from 7 to 9 months. There is initial information about the frequency and manner in which these assessments have been used for national/local HTA reports. According to a survey, a total of 28 HTA institutes have indicated that they want to make use of these assessments in their own context. In Austria, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Health Technology Assessment (LBI-HTA) has produced two reports based on EUnetHTA assessments. A further step towards cross-border collaboration and harmonisation is the implementation of these tools in a national and regional context. Beginning in 2015 the LBI-HTA will adjust two programme lines to the format of the HTA Core Model® in order to increase the transferability of HTAs and to reduce redundancies.


CONCLUSIONS
Barriers to European collaboration include the relevance of topics for individual HTA institutes and the timing of joint assessments. Implementing commonly developed methods as standard practice in local/national HTA institutes is mainly impeded by legislative requirements.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the initial positive experiences with international collaboration on specific topics and methods, the coming years will have to prove whether existing barriers can be overcome effectively.
Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für Health Technology Assessment, Wien, Österreich. Electronic address: anna.nachtnebel@hta.lbg.ac.at.
Anna
A
Nachtnebel
Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für Health Technology Assessment, Wien, Österreich.
Julia
J
Mayer
Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für Health Technology Assessment, Wien, Österreich.
Judit
J
Erdös
National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finnland.
Kristian
K
Lampe
National Health Care Institute, Diemen, Niederlande.
Sarah
S
Kleijnen
University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Österreich.
Petra
P
Schnell-Inderst
Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für Health Technology Assessment, Wien, Österreich.
Claudia
C
Wild
D001317:Austria; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005060:Europe; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D017146:Models, Organizational; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*
Biomedical; EBM; Evidenz-basierte Medizin; Medizinprodukte; Methoden; Methods; Technology Assessment; biomedical; biomedical technology; evidence-based medicine; technology assessment