The past few years have seen significant progress in the development of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in China. The China National Health Development Research Center (CNHDRC), the national focal point for HTA in China, has stepped up efforts to roll out HTA activities in many ways in order to support the growth of medical science and new technologies development. The China HTA Mechanism Building Launch Meeting on 16 January 2018, hosted by CNHDRC, marked their progress.

China HTA Mechanism Building

With funding support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, CNHDRC has carried out three pieces of policy relevant research and has engaged with government, medical and academic institutions. The three HTAs on pulmonary tuberculosis molecular diagnostic technologies, prophylactic human papillomavirus vaccination for the cervical cancer prevention, and 13 valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine are pilot projects intended to develop the mechanisms of conducting HTA so that HTA may become standard practice and ensure evidence informed decision making. Local and international experts were invited to share the experience of HTA in their countries and provide inputs to the three HTA studies. Dr.Yot Teerawattananon and Kalipso Chalkidou from iDSI joined the panel discussion on academic support for HTA. In addition, Ms.Waranya Rattanavipapong from HITAP International Unit presented the Thai and Southeast Asian experiences (Philippines and Bhutan) in conducting economic evaluations of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.

CNHDRC is a member of HTAsiaLink (a network of HTA agencies in Asia) and recently expanded their international network by joining a partnership with iDSI in December 2017.