Fondation EurActiv organised for Tuesday 9 November a lunchtime Stakeholder Workshop on governance of health technology assessment bodies (HTAs). The workshop was organised with the support of Novartis and EuropaBio.

Programme

• Will the creation of a network of HTA bodies contribute to harmonising different healthcare cultures across borders? How will this impact access to medicines and cross-border patient mobility?
• Will the creation of the HTA network affect how companies price their drugs in EU countries? Will differences remain or level off? How will this impact research, development and reward for innovation?
• The healthcare sector represents one of the largest areas of spending for EU Member States: in a time of fiscal austerity, what can national HTA bodies learn from one another?
• How can good governance of the HTA network be promoted in a European Union where health is a national, or even regional competence? What lessons can be learned from other regulated sectors?
• How will the EU network of HTA bodies fit into the existing regulatory infrastructure?

Contributors included:

• Jérôme BOEHM, Unit Health Strategy and Health Systems, DG SANCO;
• Prof. Mark THATCHER, London School of Economics;
• Dr. Ursula HOFER, Comité Permanente des Médecins Européens (CPME);
• Danuta RYDLEWSKA, European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC);
• Kees DE JONCHEERE, Regional Adviser Health Technology and Pharmaceuticals, WHO.

Moderator: Gary FINNEGAN, EU health policy journalist

Chair: Rick ZEDNIK, CEO, EurActiv