Perspectives of Health Technology Assessment in the Russian Federation
Objective of the Review: To suggest ways to organize the assessment of health-care technologies in Russia, based on the analysis of foreign experiences. Key Points: The assessment of health-care technologies is a formalized process of collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information about technologies that influence peoples' health. It also includes the preparation and distribution of reports about medical, social, economic, and other consequences arising out of the use of this information. The goal of this assessment is to provide an informational support in implementing safe and effective patient-centered health-care policy that aims to achieve the best possible outcomes with the resources available. In Russia, only some components of the assessment of health-care technologies are currently used, but a comprehensive process is still to be developed. The authors believe that a federal state budget-funded organization focused on assessing health-care technologies should be established at the Ministry of Health. They think this would be an optimal way to organize the process of assessing health-care technologies in Russia. Conclusion: Developing the assessment of health-care technologies in Russia should contribute to an optimal outcome - an improved individual and population health - with the resources available.