Professionalising health technology assessment in South Africa

Health technology encompasses interventions developed to prevent, diagnose or treat medical conditions; promote health; provide rehabilitation or organise healthcare delivery. The intervention can be a test, device, medicine, vaccine, procedure, program or system.[1] Health technology assessment (HTA) is a multidisciplinary evaluation process that assesses the properties of health technologies and interventions. It uses specific methods to determine the value of a health technology at different points in its lifecycle. The purpose of the HTA is to inform decision-making to promote equitable, efficient and high-quality health and health care systems. [1,2] It bridges the gap between the realms of research, policy making and service delivery.