This guide is intended to help policy and decision-makers in health care who require advice on health technologies that are raising questions at the local level, for example within Regional Health Authorities.

Decision-makers in health care have to make informed choices on which technologies to pay for and on how they ought to be used. Decision-makers in health authorities have to consider a range of health technologies that will impact on the local health care systems and the people that they serve. The issues will often be complex and include scientific and economic considerations.

Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a tool to help decision-makers on such issues. Decision-makers in health authorities may benefit both from HTA information that is available from other agencies and from local application of HTA principles. Both options are considered in this guide.