Assessing Progression of Health Technology Assessment Implementation in Asia: A Balanced Scorecard for Cross Comparison of Selected Countries in Asia

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to provide an update on the use of health technology assessment (HTA) in Asia and lessons for countries seeking to advance HTA. The authors built upon the research by Chootipongchaivat and the World Health Organization identifying 18 “factors conducive to the development of HTA in Asia.” These factors were used to create a balanced scorecard to assess the progress of HTA, measuring progress against each factor in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. A scoring system was used wherein: 1, No progress; 2, milestone at early stages, ad hoc HTA use; 3, progress on milestone but limited impact; 4, significant progress but limited remit; and 5, significant progress on milestone, routine HTA informs decisions. Total scores indicated progress of HTA while milestone scores provided contextual insights within countries. Literature reviews and expert interviews were used to complete scorecards.