Hospital-based health technology assessment for Latin America and the Caribbean: Practical steps for hospital-based health technology assessment units

Hospital-based health technology assessment (HB-HTA) is a specific approach to health technology assessment (HTA) developed within the hospital using the hospital or healthcare unit perspective. HB-HTA aims to provide hospital decision-makers with comprehensive and reliable evidence on the adoption of new health technologies in the context of healthcare systems that face multiple challenges such as the emergence of new, innovative health technologies coupled with fixed health budgets. This report aims to support institutions interested in developing Hospital-based health technology assessment, to adapt international recommendations to the context of the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, and to spread knowledge about HB-HTA. It provides an overview of the use of Hospital-based health technology assessment in the LAC region, and practical steps and principles to implement HB-HTA locally. This document was developed based on searches for HB-HTA documents from HTA agencies worldwide, a scoping review of HB-HTA publications in the LAC region, and a survey conducted among members of the Health Technology Assessment Network of the Americas (RedETSA). Seventeen publications and two institutional documents were included in the scoping review. The RedETSA members’ survey was answered by 64 institutions, mainly public and teaching hospitals, from 8 countries. The implementation and institutionalization of HB-HTA requires an organizational structure and staff trained in HTA. Where possible, setting up a dedicated HB-HTA unit that is regulated by a legal framework will strengthen and improve the decision-making process, making it more robust, transparent, and efficient.