Original Title: Ekstern evaluering af Center for Evaluering of Medicinsk Teknologivurdering

Authors' objectives: At the time DACEHTA was established, the decision was made to evaluate its work relative to its organisational position in the National Board of Health with a view to assessing the main tasks and discussing future possibilities for development. This report presents the results of such an evaluation with the focus on the HTA area.

Authors' recommendations: Health technology assessment came into focus in Denmark as early as the 1980s, but the establishment of a central state HTA body became protracted. Despite the fact that DACEHTA has thus only been operating for a few years, compared with corresponding units in other countries the Centre has made impressive headway in developing its identity and legitimacy. A contributory factor has undoubtedly been the many contacts with and good examples from other countries. This is important to note since this field is international, and cooperation between institutions in different countries is the key to an effective build-up of knowledge within the HTA and EW areas. Each country has its own organisational model with advantages and disadvantages. The model within which DACEHTA operates has its strength in a certain degree of freedom within the National Board of Health. This allows the possibility to draw autonomous conclusions from the analyses while concomitantly receiving support to implement them. It also gives possibilities for coordination and long-range planning of state efforts concerning the analysis of health technologies. The model necessitates good forms of cooperation and clearly defined areas of responsibility. The distribution of areas of responsibility between the state institutions that carry out technology analyses within the pharmaceutical area needs to be clarified. The composition and tasks of the Centre Advisory Board need to be examined more closely. It is also necessary that the Scientific Advisory Board be give a more active role in the routine work. High validity and credibility are essential for DACEHTA. Thoroughly prepared reports are therefore more important than rapidly creating a basis for decision making on topical issues. The latter can be provided by others in the field. With long-range, coordinated and synchronised planning, the need for rapid analyses will diminish. Dissemination of information is a general problem that DACEHTA works with through printed reports, newsletters and websites. More active dissemination of information is necessary, for example in the form of regional conferences in connection with the publication of new reports. Administration and guidance in connection with the HTA grants occupy a considerable part of DACEHTAs resources. Despite this, it is such an important aspect of the dissemination of information that the activity should continue. To be able to plan and carry out projects and to enhance information and implementation activities necessitates an internal evaluation of the effects of education, project support and reports in the health service. The resources that DACEHTA uses are very limited relative to the total cost of the health service. The use of evidence-based analyses offers a considerable potential for effectivisation. The overall assessment, therefore, is that DACEHTA is a cost-effective endeavour provided that its relative autonomy is preserved.

Authors' methods: Evaluation study

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2003

URL for published report: https://www.sst.dk/da/Udgivelser/2003/Ekstern-evaluering-af-Center-for-Evaluering-of-Medicinsk-Teknologivurdering

English language abstract: There is no English language summary available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Denmark

Organisation Name: Danish Centre for Evaluation and Health Technology Assessment

Contact Address: National Board of Health, PO Box 1881, Islands Brygge 67, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark. Tel: 45 72 22 74 48; Fax: 45 72 22 74 07/67

Contact Name: dacehta@sst.dk

Contact Email: dacehta@sst.dk

Copyright: Danish Centre for Evaluation and Health Technology Assessment (DACEHTA) (formerly DIHTA)