Last update:
05-Jun-2022

The critical role of health technology assessment (HTA) in the sustainability of public health and health systems has been repeatedly documented during the recent decades, and this is reflected in the establishment of HTA agencies in many European countries, which have already implemented relevant programs. In Greece, also, HTA has been introduced with the recently enacted laws based on international experience, which is constantly being enriched, in particular by the continuous response of these bodies to the constantly emerging challenges, such as that of the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, the recording of the individual operating methods of each of the HTA bodies indicates obvious similarities, but also differences, and results in the osmosis of international experience between European countries, with the ultimate goal of gradually achieving greater efficiency. The interchange of experience, which appears to be constantly evolving, contributes to the upgrade of the level of health enjoyed by European citizens. The conservation of valuable resources for national health systems is also apparent, and Greece, under the formed domestic legal framework, is obliged to utilize appropriately the findings of the respective European bodies, to ensure attainment of the dual goal of sustainability of the state health system and modernized health care provision to Greek citizens, as the most visible result of the successful implementation of HTA.

Key words: Health systems, International health technology assessment.