HIQA publishes updated national guidelines for conducting economic evaluation and budget impact analysis in health technology assessments
Today the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published updated guidelines for conducting economic evaluation and budget impact analysis in health technology assessments (HTAs). The guidelines are intended to inform economic evaluations or budget impact analyses conducted by, or on behalf of HIQA, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE), the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive, as well as health technology developers preparing applications for reimbursement.
HTAs are used to help decide which health technologies (such as drugs, procedures, medical devices, broader public health interventions and service delivery models) should form part of the publicly-funded health and social care system. It is therefore important that best-practice methodologies are used when conducting HTAs. A suite of national HTA guidelines has been developed by HIQA based on international best practice. HIQA updates these guidelines to ensure they incorporate the most up-to-date and relevant scientific information, based on research and experience both nationally and internationally.
Publication of these updated economic guidelines follows a public consultation that was held from 21 October to 2 December 2024. The feedback received was carefully considered. Submissions and responses to them are documented in a statement of outcomes report, which has also been published.
Dr Máirín Ryan, HIQA's Deputy CEO and Director of Health Technology Assessment said: “A HTA involves the systematic evaluation of health technologies. Economic evaluation and budget impact analysis are often conducted as part of a HTA. Economic evaluation compares the costs and benefits of different choices to see which one is the best use of public resources. Budget impact analysis helps decision-makers understand the impact on the healthcare budget of introducing a new technology.
These guidelines explain how economic evaluation and budget impact analysis in HTA should be conducted to inform healthcare investments and policy decisions in Ireland.”
These guidelines were developed with the support of HIQA’s HTA Scientific Advisory Group, which comprises patients, researchers, policy-makers, health technology developers, clinicians and other national and international experts. Their input is crucial in ensuring that the guidelines are fit-for-purpose and of high quality, which in turn helps inform health policy decision-making and support safer, better healthcare.
ENDS
Further information:
Marty Whelan, Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement
085 805 5202 / mwhelan@hiqa.ie
Notes to Editor:
- HIQA has today published the following documents:
- HIQA has a statutory remit to conduct HTAs and provide advice to the Minister for Health and the Health Service Executive to inform healthcare investments and policy decisions in Ireland.
- HTA guideline documents provide an overview of the principles and methods used in assessing health technologies.
- The suite of national HTA guidelines published by HIQA is available here.