HEDS is part of the School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) at the University of Sheffield. We undertake research, teaching, training and consultancy on all aspects of health related decision science, with a particular emphasis on health economics, HTA and evidence synthesis.

Thursday 23 November 2017

Are EUNetHTA Rapid Assessments fit for purpose?

EUNetHTA have just published “Regorafenib indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who have been previously treated with Sorafenib”.  This is an example of a rapid assessment of pharmaceutical technologies using the HTA Core Model® for Rapid Relative Effectiveness Assessment.

We all know that these assessments do not include any economics.  Instead they take a broader view of the effectiveness, together with an analysis of ethical, legal and patient perspectives.

In the above report, Chapter 7, “POTENTIAL ETHICAL, ORGANISATIONAL, PATIENT AND SOCIAL, AND LEGAL ASPECTS” consists of two words:
“Not applicable”.

Chapter 8 “PATIENT INVOLVEMENT” consists of three sentences:
“WP4 emphasises the importance of including the patient’s perspective in producing Joint Assessments. For this specific Joint Assessment, several patient organisations have been contacted to assist in identifying patients who may be interested in participating in the Joint Assessment. However, no response from patients has been received.

Is this good enough?

Image: ETHICS by wombatarama


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