PNS76 The Growing Demand for HTA in Sub-Saharan Africa

Several countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have made advances or showing increased interest in the use of Health Technology Assessment (HTA). This paper charts the progress of HTA in various countries of SSA including the key facilitators and barriers, relevant stakeholders, and proposed institutional structures for HTA. This study builds upon the literature review conducted for the document “A Roadmap for Systematic Priority Setting and Health Technology Assessment (HTA): A Practical Guide for Low- and Middle-Income Countries”, developed by Management Sciences for Health and USAID. An online survey consisting of 11 open-ended questions was conducted with six regional HTA experts and practitioners. HTA experts provided insights from their experiences in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania. Need for additional political will, lack of technical experts, and lack of funding were the key barriers cited for advancing HTA in the region. Growing interest in HTA, donor funding, and health reforms targeting UHC are key facilitators for scaling up of HTA. Limited technical experts has facilitated regional collaborations, peer learning, and engagement of diverse set of stakeholders. Due to the nascent nature of HTA in the region, most of the countries do not have standardized methods and processes. Institutional structures are still evolving and will be based on country context and some countries with highly decentralized governance structures may opt for regional HTA programs. HTA is at the beginning stages in SSA, however, many countries are integrating HTA principles in their healthcare decision-making processes. Design of health benefits package and revision of essential medicines lists are key areas where HTA methods are being used. HTA experts underscored the importance of tailoring HTA processes to suit country context, learning from peers, and starting small rather than adopting complex HTA models of HICs.