Objectives Healthcare research and development have accelerated at an unprecedented
rate creating a challenge even for high-income countries to finance all new technologies.
Health technology assessment (HTA) aims to maximize health gains out of available
resources. Our study aimed to provide tailor-made recommendations for HTA implementation
in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods We conducted a policy survey to explore
the gap between the current and preferred future environment of HTA implementation
in the UAE. The survey was distributed in 2 workshops discussing the importance of
HTA implementation, and results were further aggregated to yield a list of draft recommendations.
Recommendations were then assessed for their feasibility in a round table discussion
with experts in the field to generate actions for HTA implementation. Results Survey
results and round table discussion indicated the need to leverage HTA for value-based
decision making. Experts confirmed the unmet need for broader coverage of graduate
and postgraduate HTA training with the aim of specific PhD programs in the UAE. Public
funding for HTA appraisals and expanding the scope of HTA to nonpharmaceuticals was
recommended. Furthermore, experts recommended that several HTA bodies should be coordinated
centrally and highlighted the importance of having an explicit soft cost-effectiveness
threshold for common technologies and a higher threshold for orphan drugs. Conclusions
Although HTA in the UAE is still in its early stages, strong initiatives are being
taken for its implementation. Our survey results served as a step in developing a
detailed action plan for HTA implementation that will enhance the sustainability of
the healthcare system.
