Quality and efficiency / Health Technology Assessment

Health technology assessment (HTA) is an essential instrument for evaluating health care services. HTA is needed for a systematic examination and evaluation of new, or already applied, medical technologies, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices (processes, services, therapies, procedures, etc.) as well as organisational structures in which medical services are delivered. In the context of HTA, medical, economic and also social, ethical, legal and organisational aspects are examined.

So far, our activities in the area of quality and efficiency have been focused on creating a framework for HTA at federal level, promoting the general acceptance and increasing the awareness of HTA approaches, encouraging an exchange of information in this area (national and international cooperation) and drawing up HTA reports. The statutory basis for an increased use of HTA in Austria has been provided by the Act on Health Care Quality (GQG) and the Agreement under Art. 15a of Austria’s Constitutional Act, on the Organisation and Funding of Health Care, which was concluded on 1 January 2008.

Contact: Ingrid Rosian-Schikuta