Int J Technol Assess Health Care . Health technology assessment of tests for SARS-CoV-2 and treatments for COVID-19: A proposed approach and best-practice recommendations

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Int J Technol Assess Health Care


. 2023 Apr 24;39(1):e24.
doi: 10.1017/S0266462323000223.
Health technology assessment of tests for SARS-CoV-2 and treatments for COVID-19: A proposed approach and best-practice recommendations


Jamie Elvidge ¹ , Ashley Summerfield ² , Saskia Knies ³ , Bertalan Németh ⁴ , Zoltán Kaló ⁴ , Wim Goettsch ⁵ , Dalia M Dawoud ¹ ; COVID-19 HTA Best-Practice Development Group



Affiliations

• PMID: 37092749
• DOI: 10.1017/S0266462323000223

Abstract

Objectives: To develop best-practice guidance for health technology assessment (HTA) agencies when appraising diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 and treatments for COVID-19.
Methods: We used a policy sandbox approach to develop best-practice guidance for HTA agencies to approach known challenges associated with assessing tests and treatments for COVID-19. The guidance was developed by a multi-stakeholder workshop of twenty-one participants representing HTA agencies, clinical and patient experts, academia, industry, and a payer, from across Europe and North America. The workshop was supported by extensive background work to identify the key challenges, including: targeted reviews of existing COVID-related methods guidance for assessing interventions and clinical guidelines, engagement with clinical experts, a survey and workshop of HTA agencies, a systematic review of published economic evaluations, and a workshop of health economic modelers.
Results: We suggest HTA agencies should consider using other types of evidence (e.g., real world) where high-quality randomized controlled trials may be lacking and healthcare systems would value timely HTA outputs. A "living" HTA approach may be useful, given the context of an evolving disease, scientific understanding and evidence base, allowing for decisions to be efficiently revisited in response to new information; particularly, if supported by a common "disease model" for COVID-19. Innovative ways of engaging with the public and clinicians, and early engagement with regulators and payers, are recommended.
Conclusions: HTA agencies should consider the elements of this guidance that are most suited to their existing processes to enable them to assess the effectiveness and value of interventions for COVID-19.

Keywords: Coronavirus; biomedical; cost effectiveness; pandemics; technology assessment.