Health Technology Assessment - final report
Media Release
28 February 2010
Australia set to reform Health Technology Assessment
The Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) welcomes the release of the Federal Government’s report on the future assessment of health technology in Australia.
“I’m pleased to see that the recommendations will ensure Australians receive the benefits of improved processes for assessment and adoption of rapidly evolving, innovative medical technology,” said Anne Trimmer, MTAA Chief Executive Officer.
“The proposed changes are long overdue and mean that future assessments will be evidence based, more efficient and transparent and sufficiently flexible to enable assessment of a range of emerging technologies.
“I especially commend the Department of Health and Ageing for adopting a consultative review process that not only included submissions and public consultations but also a Stakeholder Reference Group, so the voices of consumers, private health insurers, clinical experts, medical technology industry and other stakeholders could be heard and included in the report,” said Ms Trimmer.
“Important details such as mechanisms to use post market surveillance data and the process for benefit setting still need to be worked through with the Government and MTAA looks forward to working with the Government on the implementation of the HTA reform,” said Ms Trimmer.
MTAA has contributed extensively throughout the consultation process and many of its recommendations and those of its members were reflected in the final report:
• Improvement of procedural fairness and consistency across all HTA processes
• Enhanced representation of stakeholders on the Prostheses and Devices Committee (PDC) to include experts in clinical practice, health policy and health economics
• Adoption of a single entry point to streamline the application process
• Development of an HTA map to navigate the system and explain roles and responsibilities
• Ability for MSAC to use industry submissions as the basis of an assessment of clinical and cost effectiveness as well as retaining the prerogative to conduct its own full evaluation
MTAA also welcomed the report’s endorsement of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) as the sole authority responsible for assessing the safety, quality and efficacy of therapeutic goods.
Medical technology covers a diverse product range used in the diagnosis, treatment and management of disease and disability. Technologies range from complex capital equipment like PET scanners to simple items like syringes and highly evolved implantable technologies such as pacemakers, orthopaedic hips and knees, and cochlear devices.
The Review of Health Technology Assessment was jointly announced by the Ministers for Health and Ageing and Finance and Deregulation in December 2008. The report is available from the Department of Health’s website.
The Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) is the national association representing companies in the medical technology industry. MTAA aims to ensure the benefits of modern, innovative and reliable medical technology are delivered to the community for a healthier Australia.
Media contact: Marion Demann MTAA 0416 625 678
