Health technology assessment in the Czech and the Slovak Republics

Abstract

During communism, the reasoning for investments in medical technology was made mainly on a political basis in Czechoslovakia. Situation changed with the end of communist regimes that brought among others open borders for purchasing medical technology. When western countries began to use HTA to evaluate spending in health technologies, the markets in Middle and East Europe became fully vulnerable both to seemingly beneficial offers of companies delivering medical devices and groundless political decisions. First information about HTA appeared in the Czech Republic only in the beginning of 21st century. Until now, there has not been much progress, all papers have been only explanatory and promotional. No agency was established. In Slovakia, no information about HTA appeared before 2009. Nevertheless, a HTA agency SLOVAHTA was established in February 2010; it has, however, neither clear position nor a funding scheme yet. Anticipated development in both countries is discussed. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.