A workshop centering on China’s policy and methods for health technology assessment (HTA), jointly organized by the Center for Pharmacoeconomic Evaluation and Research of Fudan University and the Center for Health Economics of York University, was held online from September 3 to 4, 2021.
The workshop invited 37 HTA experts from University of York, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK, Fudan University, Peking University, Zhejiang University, Shandong University, Sun Yat-sen University, Tianjin University, Renmin University of China, Dalian Medical University, Shanghai Municipal Health Development Research Center, etc.
Before the workshop, the School of Public Health of Fudan University and the Center for Health Economics of York University signed an online memorandum of cooperation
At the opening ceremony, Professor Yingyao Chen, associate dean of the School of Public Health at Fudan University, Professor Kiran Trehan, pro-vice-chancellor for partnerships and engagement of University of York, and Professor Hassan Yazdiffar, head of the Department for Accounting, Finance and Economics at Bournemouth University delivered speeches expounding the important role of health technology assessment in health insurance decision-making for China and the UK and the goals and significance of the UK-China Health and Economy Partnership.
Professor Kiran Trehan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Partnerships and Engagement of University of York
Nine keynote speeches were made on the first day of the workshop.
Wen Chen, professor of Health Economics and director at the Center for Pharmacoeconomic Evaluation and Research of Fudan University, explained the policies and challenges of HTA application in decision-making for China.
Professor Yingyao Chenupdated the workshop attendees on the development and application in the decision-making of China’s HTA.
Min Hu, secretary-general of the Center for Pharmacoeconomic Evaluation and Research at Fudan University, expounded the role of HTA and economic evaluation in China’s medical insurance access.
Mark Sculpher, director of the Centre for Health Economics at University of York, shared from a global perspective his experience in HTA used for decision-making.
Meindert Boysen, deputy chief executive and director of the Centre for Health Technology Evaluation of NICE, shared UK’s policies for HTA application and NICE’s experience.
Matthew Taylor, director of York Health Economics Consortium (YHEC), explained how the clinical evidence for HTA submissions should be reviewed.
Cynthia Iglesias, associate professor of Health Economics and member of the Health Services and Policy Research group in the Department of Health Sciences at University of York, shared a case study of how NICE reviews HTA submissions.
Jo Gander, director of Clinical and Product Assurance at NHS Supply Chain, shared the experience of NHS in balancing value and affordability of drugs and medical devices.
The second day of the workshop featured a roundtable session and a case study session. The roundtable was moderated by Luying Zhang, associate professor of Health Economics from School of Public Health at Fudan University.
Luying Zhang, associate professor of Health Economics from School of Public Health at Fudan University
The Chinese experts shared their views on the lessons that can be learned in HTA practice, the main HTA challenges in medical insurance access in China, the need to set the ICER threshold, the considerations for HTA, and the quality of evidence submitted, etc.
During the case study session, the Chinese experts were divided into two groups. Each group conducted a mock review of the evidence submitted by an enterprise to NICE for assessment, before the British experts made comments and offered suggestions on the review results.
The 2-day online workshop aims to build a high-level platform gathering international experts for in-depth exchange. As health technology assessment plays an increasingly important role in decision-making of the medical insurance access and payment of drugs in China. This workshop is of great benefit in that it allows global experts to reach consensus and put forward suggestions on HTA.
The workshop, held as part of the UK-China Health and Economy Partnership, promotes long-term collaboration in pharmacoeconomics and Health Technology Assessment (HTA), between leading academic institutions, in China and the United Kingdom. The aim of the project is to generate new expertise and techniques in health economics. These new assessment techniques are intended to significantly increase the positive impact on health for Chinese patients and the wider economy.