Systematic reviews play an increasingly important role in healthcare policy and governance

The Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services (SBU) is part of the global HTA community through its membership of HTAi (Health Technology Assessment international). Around 1,000 participants gathered in Istanbul this summer for the organisation’s annual conference, held under the theme HTA As A System Shaper.

Converting evidence into policy

SBU’s International Relations Manager, Sophie Werkö, attended the conference and chaired parts of the programme.

“It became clear that health technology assessment (HTA) is no longer limited to being a technical process focused on specific interventions. Instead, assessments are increasingly viewed as a strategic process that can convert evidence into policy,” she says.

Healthcare systems around the world are under pressure from rising costs, rapid technological development and the effects of climate change. Furthermore, challenges to scientific evidence and shifting political priorities are testing established approaches to decision-making and determining the best way forward.

Implementation may become part of more comprehensive assessments

The theme HTA As A System Shaper reflects a changing perspective. Systematic assessments are playing an increasingly important role in shaping future systems, influencing governance, priority setting, equity and the long-term sustainability of healthcare systems.

“As a result, systematic assessments need to evolve in order to take a broader perspective, for example by incorporating implementation tools,” says Sophie Werkö.

Implementation is currently a prominent topic throughout the HTA community. SBU is engaged in work on implementation and organisation in a variety of ways. The agency is reviewing what should be included in its own assessments and also compiling research on implementation, including the implementation of specific interventions. Another concept gaining increasing attention is disinvestment, a topic that SBU has examined in a number of reports. Disinvestment concerns the phasing out of low-value care as healthcare systems evolve and resources need to be used where they provide the greatest benefit.

Sweden at the forefront of systematic assessments

In addition to HTAi, which can be described as an international scientific association, there is INAHTA (the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment), which supports international collaboration on systematic assessments. INAHTA facilitates global cooperation between agencies and organisations that conduct health technology assessments. The network includes 54 organisations from 33 countries.  SBU has significantly contributed to HTAi and played a leading role in INAHTA, with Sophie Werkö serving as Chair of INAHTA for several years.

“Through SBU’s work, Sweden has strengthened the value of systematic reviews and continues to make them even more useful for the development of healthcare, social care and social services,” she says.

Read more about international networks for systematic assessments on SBU’s page Collaboration.