News

26 October, 2021

HTW collaborates with global network of health technology assessment agencies on patient involvement position statement

Health Technology Wales (HTW) has joined forces with health technology assessment agencies across the world to write a position statement on Patient Involvement in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) for the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment.

It collaborated with other INAHTA members to produce the second position statement, which aims to reflect the organisation’s views on the valuable role of patient involvement in health technology assessment.

HTW strives to ensure that patients groups and those that could be directly affected by the outcome of an HTA are involved in the appraisal process.

The HTW Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Standing Group led by HTW’s PPI officer, Alice Evans, provides direction and guidance to ensure that HTW maintains effective PPI (patient and public involvement) throughout its work.

Susan Myles, Director of Health Technology Wales, said: “We are delighted to have collaborated with INAHTA on the creation of this position statement, which reflects the very high value we place on the importance of patient involvement in the health technology assessment process.”

Peter Groves, HTW Chairman, said: “We consider the involvement of patients to be integral to the effectiveness and relevance of the work we do at Health Technology Wales.  I am particularly pleased, therefore, that we were able to collaborate with other international organisations in preparing this important position statement which re-affirms the value of listening to and acting on the experiences and views of those most affected by our recommendations.”

Alice Evans added: “By listening to the views, perspectives and experiences of those who use care services we can gain valuable insight into the potential impact of the health technologies we are assessing. Our aim is to improve healthcare for patients in Wales and we need their input to ensure this goal is being met.”

INAHTA’s position statement states that patients have a right to be involved in the HTA process as the outcome of the assessment could affect them directly. It goes on to say that identifying what matters to patients will ensure that HTA outputs are more responsive to healthcare needs and the wider health care goals of society. According to INAHTA, involving patients in HTA can improve the quality of the assessment and supports patient centre decision making.

HTW and the PPISG welcomes the publishing of INAHTA’s latest Position Statement on Patient Involvement and celebrates the opportunity to work with the INAHTA community on this statement, that it hopes will support the engagement of patients and carers in HTA processes.