title: The transparency of published health technology assessment-based recommendations on pharmaceutical reimbursement in Poland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The appropriate access to public information is very important for healthcare system stakeholders. The goal of this study was to examine how the execution of the formally existing right to public information on the HTA-based recommendations on reimbursement of new health technologies from public funds has been changing in Poland.
  
  
  METHODS
  All recommendations published within two predefined equal periods of time between 2013 and 2015 were analyzed. The gathered data was subjected to statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency and intensity of censoring the published HTA-based recommendations on the pharmaceutical reimbursement has diminished. The text readability and clarity of message has improved, although the degree of decisiveness of the recommendations has dropped.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The positive changes in the public communication policy should be continued. The transparency of the HTA-based recommendations should be increased further in some areas in the future.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Drug Management, Faculty of Health Sciences , Jagiellonian University Medical College , Krakow , Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bochenek
authors.affiliation: b Health Economics and Social Security Department, Faculty of Health Sciences , Jagiellonian University Medical College , Krakow , Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kocot
authors.affiliation: c Health Promotion Department, Faculty of Health Sciences , Jagiellonian University Medical College , Krakow , Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodzinka
authors.affiliation: d Division of Clinical Pharmacology , Karolinska Institute , Stockholm , Sweden.|e Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences , Strathclyde University , Glasgow , UK.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Godman
authors.affiliation: c Health Promotion Department, Faculty of Health Sciences , Jagiellonian University Medical College , Krakow , Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maciejewska
authors.affiliation: f Community Pharmacy Department, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Geneva, University of Lausanne , Geneva , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.affiliation: g Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Pharmacology , Polish Academy of Sciences , Krakow , Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pilc
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D003142:Communication; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000191:economics; D011044:Poland; D011640:Public Policy; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
keywords: HTA; Health technology assessment; Poland; citizens’ rights; pharmaceutical reimbursement; public information; transparency