The role of HTA in coverage and pricing decisions: a cross-country comparison

Since the late 1970s, many European countries have established health technology assessment (HTA) systems to inform coverage and pricing decisions. These countries use HTA to systematically determine the relative ‘value for money’ provided by new technologies and to give providers and patients information to make treatment choices. This, in turn, serves to encourage the efficient and effective use of health technologies and to support innovation by identifying and rewarding high-value products. This overview article explores the use of HTA in coverage and pricing decisions, with a focus on pharmaceuticals, in six European countries with established HTA systems – Denmark, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.