Canadian Health Technology Assessment Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is a primary aim of health care systems in creating transparency?

To generate maximum profit for private facilities

To provide reports and evaluate services for public awareness (correct)

To limit access to information for consumers

To focus solely on governmental policies

What challenge did Dr. Charlie face in Quebec regarding health care services?

Extended waiting periods for health care services (correct)

The availability of private hospitals

Increased funding for public hospitals

A lack of government support for hospitals

What influences consumer attitudes towards health care systems in Canada and the U.S.?

Media representation and coverage of the systems (correct)

Economic status of individuals

Direct experiences with health care professionals

Community support groups

What aspect of health care systems is essential for their longevity?

Enhancing system productivity and sustainability Signup and view all the answers

How should health care systems respond to issues like doctor or nursing shortages?

By implementing novel strategies specific to each issue Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary benefit of delaying the rapid adoption of health technologies according to HTA?

Lower costs associated with later adoption Signup and view all the answers

Why have Canadians remained largely unaware of HTA’s impact on healthcare?

Lack of public communication about HTA Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the policy response to pharmaceuticals from that of other health technologies in Canada?

Collaboration among provinces in pharmaceuticals due to concentrated industry presence Signup and view all the answers

What is expected to strengthen HTA’s academic foundation in the future?

Greater integration with public health initiatives Signup and view all the answers

Which factor contributes to the contrasting healthcare models between Canada and the U.S.?

Proximity to alternative healthcare technology perspectives Signup and view all the answers

When was Alberta’s HTA program established?

1993 Signup and view all the answers

What significant change occurred to Alberta’s HTA program in 2006?

It was transferred to the Institute of Health Economics. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of health technology assessment (HTA) in Canada?

To ensure optimal use of public resources in healthcare decisions Signup and view all the answers

What type of HTA model has been emerging in Canada?

Hospital-based HTA efforts Signup and view all the answers

Which province created INESSS to broaden the scope of HTA?

Quebec Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the roles of the National Health Technology Strategy?

To coordinate HTA information and guide provincial decisions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the evolution of HTA organizations in Canada?

Increased variety and influence in policy-making Signup and view all the answers

What feature highlights HTA's growing role at the institutional level in Quebec?

Mandatory HTA capacities in academic health centers Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the challenges for the future of health technology assessment (HTA) in Canada?

More meaningful involvement of patients in decision-making processes Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary focus of the HTA in Quebec due to the absence of strong domestic producers?

Optimizing public spending on health technologies Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following challenges relates specifically to nondrug health technologies?

Addressing companion diagnostics and personalized medicine Signup and view all the answers

In what year did CETS evolve into AETMIS?

2000 Signup and view all the answers

What is a barrier to effective health technology assessment indicated by variability across jurisdictions?

Diversity in technology assessment frameworks Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of health technology assessment is highlighted as needing definition?

The value of a health technology Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary aim of establishing the CCOHTA in 1989?

To enhance HTA efforts among Canadian provinces Signup and view all the answers

Which stakeholder's involvement in the health technology assessment process is emphasized?

Patients Signup and view all the answers

What change occurred to CCOHTA in 2006?

It expanded its mandate and transformed into CADTH Signup and view all the answers

What led to the closure of the British Columbia Office of Health Technology Assessment (BCOHTA)?

Shifts in government budget priorities Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best summarizes the transition of CETS to AETMIS?

A shift towards evaluating both technologies and intervention methods Signup and view all the answers

What significant impact did CADTH's broader scope include after its creation?

Addressing comprehensive assessments that include drugs and technologies Signup and view all the answers

What was a primary reason for the establishment of HTA bodies like CETS and CADTH?

To enhance decision-making regarding health technology adoption Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Evolution of the Canadian Health Technology Assessment System

Focus on Transparency and Public Engagement: To promote accountability, Canada strives to provide comprehensive reports and evaluations of its healthcare system, aiming to create transparency and respond to consumer needs.
Role of the Government & Consumer Attitudes: Government direction shapes the healthcare landscape, but consumer attitudes, often influenced by media coverage, can pose challenges.

Major HTA Organizations and Their Development

CETS (Conseil d'évaluation des technologies de la santé): Quebec established CETS in 1988, pioneering a health technology assessment (HTA) body to promote evidence-based decision-making for adopting new healthcare technologies.
AETMIS (Agence d'évaluation des technologies et des modes d'intervention en santé): In 2000, CETS transitioned into AETMIS, expanding its scope to encompass evaluations of not just technologies but also healthcare intervention methods.
CCOHTA (Canadian Coordinating Office for Health Technology Assessment): Founded in 1989, CCOHTA aimed to coordinate HTA efforts across Canada, particularly benefiting smaller provinces with limited assessment resources.
CADTH (Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health): CCOHTA became CADTH in 2006, expanding its mandate to include drug reviews and medication optimization. This broadened approach reflects the need for comprehensive assessments that consider both technologies and medications, strengthening the policy-relevant research base.
BCOHTA (British Columbia Office of Health Technology Assessment): BCOHTA was established in 1990 with a focus on the social implications of health technology, but was closed in 2002 due to government budget cuts, highlighting the fragility of HTA programs in the face of financial constraints.
Alberta's HTA Program: Alberta established an HTA program in 1993, which was later transitioned to the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, and subsequently to the Institute of Health Economics (IHE) in 2006. Alberta demonstrates a sustained long-term commitment to integrating HTA into healthcare planning.

Diverse HTA Models Across Canada

Provincial Variations: Canada employs various HTA models across its provinces and territories, reflecting their unique healthcare systems. These diverse models include government-supported, academic, and hospital-based HTA organizations, contributing to a dynamic landscape for health technology evaluation.

Emergence of Hospital-Based HTA and Expanding Scope

Growing Institutional Presence: Hospital-based HTA efforts are increasing. Institutions like Quebec's academic health centers are now required to have HTA capabilities, indicating the growing prominence of HTA at the institutional level.
Expansion of Assessment: Quebec's creation of INESSS, which assesses both drugs and health technologies while integrating social services, emphasizes an expanded view of technology assessment. This broader approach highlights HTA's maturing tools and its deeper influence on healthcare decisions.

National Health Technology Strategy

Coordination and Information Sharing: Canada has a National Health Technology Strategy to coordinate HTA information and guide provincial decisions. CADTH has introduced inquiry response and liaison programs to enhance information sharing among different provinces.
Managed Diffusion of Technologies: HTA has helped manage the diffusion of health technologies, ensuring cost-effectiveness while promoting a measured approach to adoption. This allows governments to take advantage of lower costs associated with delayed adoption and minimize risks through informed decisions.

Challenges and Limitations

Canadian Consumer Awareness: While HTA plays a crucial role in decision-making, Canadian consumers remain largely unaware of its direct impact.
Pharmaceutical vs. Technology Policy Disparity: Policy responses to pharmaceuticals and other heath technologies show a notable divergence. Pharmaceutical policies, through the Common Drug Review process, have seen greater provincial collaboration, possibly due to the more concentrated industry presence and clearer cost structures.

Future Directions for HTA in Canada

Strengthening Academic Foundations: HTA is expected to further solidify its academic foundation as government decision-makers increasingly embrace evidence-based frameworks.
Integration and Collaborative Efforts: There is potential for greater integration between HTA organizations, funding bodies, and public health initiatives, which could lead to enhanced research capacity and training.

Current Challenges

Defining Value and Addressing Bias: Defining the value of technology and addressing biases in decision-making.
Patient Engagement: Encouraging meaningful involvement of patients in the HTA process.
Variability in Nondrug Technology Assessment: Addressing the variability in HTA for nondrug health technologies across different jurisdictions.
Companion Diagnostics and Personalized Medicine: Tackling challenges related to companion diagnostics and personalized medicine.

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Description

This quiz explores the evolution and current state of the Canadian Health Technology Assessment (HTA) system, focusing on the importance of transparency and public engagement. Additionally, it examines the major organizations involved in HTA, such as CETS and AETMIS, and their roles in evidence-based decision-making in healthcare.