Our Impact
AHTA is an internationally recognised independent research group providing health technology assessment (HTA) services to organisations such as the Commonwealth Government of Australia.
HTA research has direct impact on government policy, clinical pathways, health guidelines and government funding of medical technologies and medicines. Since 2001, AHTA has been providing high impact HTA in Australia and through its dedicated work, improving the health outcomes of the Australian population.
Health Technology Assessment Policy and Methods Review
AHTA was announced as one of three health technology assessment (HTA) expert groups to provide support for the HTA Policy and Methods Review.
The HTA Policy and Methods Review is a key part of the five-year Strategic Agreement signed between Medicines Australia and the Federal Government in 2022.
AHTA's role was to assess contemporary research on HTA, and HTA methods and processes used internationally, to inform the Reference Committee as they consider what features of the current system:
- are working effectively
- may act as current or future barriers to earliest possible access to medicines
- may act as current or future barriers to equitable access to medicines
- detract from person-centredness
- may be creating perverse incentives.
This piece of research will have a direct impact on the future shape of HTA in Australia.
AHTA was involved in development of:
- Paper 1 - International health technology market approval, funding and assessment pathways.
- Paper 2 - Horizon Scanning and early value assessment.
- Paper 3 - HTA Methods: Determination of Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome (PICO).
- Paper 4 - HTA Methods: Clinical Evaluation
The final versions of the above papers have been combined into a single report, which can be access here:
'HTA pathways and processes, clinical evaluation methods and horizon scanning'.
The HTA Policy and Methods Review is the first independent detailed review of Australian HTA methods and policies, for evaluating the safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of medicines, vaccines, codependent technologies and highlight specialised therapies, in 30 years.
ARC Engagement and Impact Assessment
In 2018, the Australian Research Council (ARC) undertook the inaugural Engagement and Impact Assessment (EI 2018). This report assessed the economic, social, environmental and cultural impact and end-user engagement of university research. AHTA submitted an impact study based on work completed for the Commonwealth Government Department of Health, Medical Services Advisory Committee.
From 2011-2016, 23 item numbers were added to the Medicare Benefits Schedule as a direct result of research conducted by AHTA between 2002 and 2016, the EI timeframe. As a result, Australians received 869,299 services of proven effectiveness in private hospitals, pathology laboratories and GP clinics at a cost to Medicare of $167,966,943 (Medicare Australia), while eight ineffective services, costing approximately $3.39 million, were not delivered (based on average services/year).
The impact study received a ‘high’ rating by the ARC and is published on the ARC Data Portal. The case studies below highlight the impact that AHTA's work has on Australian and international populations.
Research impact case studies
Coronary artery disease
Evaluation of multi-slice computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCTCA) for visualising coronary arteries.
AHTA’s work continues to have impact on evidence-based decision-making to determine if emerging and existing technologies are safe, effective and cost-effective in comparison to the current prevention, diagnostic or treatment practice for the particular population and setting.