During the latest HTAi conference in Rome, themed “Towards an HTA Ecosystem: From Local Needs to Global Opportunities”, CEO Isabelle Lepage-Nefkens presented the proposal for a joint European horizon scanning system (HSS). The joint European HSS proposal was commissioned by the BeNeLuxA collaboration on ministerial level, but several other countries are in talks to join the joint HSS. The collaboration is a frontrunner in an evolving trend of more collaborative activities in drug policy like horizon scanning, price negotiations and HTA.
During the HTAi conference Panos Kanavos (London School of Economics) described the landscape of initiatives and explained the potential impact of these collaborations on access, innovation and affordability of medicines. Linda Van Saase (Zin, The Netherlands) and Helle Vibeke Brauner (Amgros, Denmark) shared their experiences in their national HSS. The well-attended panel session demonstrated, from field experiences and research, that the joint HSS can help to facilitate the integration of the “HTA ecosystem” procedures, both on a national and international level and help to better prepare decision makers on a local level. For further information please read the KCE report.