What Is Health Technology Assessment (HTA)? Why does it Matter?

On any given day, health systems around the world face a tough balancing act: how to provide patients with the best possible care while keeping costs under control. Enter Health Technology Assessment (HTA), a structured, evidence-based approach used globally to evaluate the value and cost-effectiveness of health technologies such as vaccines, diagnostics, and medical devices. This critical tool is quietly shaping the future of medicine, policy, and patient care.

At its simplest, HTA is a way of asking: Is this medical innovation worth it? Whether it’s a new cancer drug, a diagnostic tool like MRI, or a digital health app, HTA examines not just whether it works, but how it stacks up in terms of cost, effectiveness, and impact on society.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 30 countries have formal HTA bodies guiding national health policy, and over 80 use some form of HTA in decision-making. In the United Kingdom, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been at the forefront, famously declining to fund drugs that do not deliver sufficient value for their price. That stance has sometimes caused controversy, but it has also saved the UK’s National Health Service billions of pounds.

The stakes are high. A report by the OECD estimates that up to 20% of health spending is wasted on ineffective treatments. With global health expenditure projected to hit $11 trillion by 2030, ensuring every dollar is well spent is no small matter. HTA provides the evidence governments and insurers need to decide which technologies deserve investment, and which should be left on the shelf.

But HTA isn’t just about numbers. Its reach extends to ethical and social questions too. For instance: Should a country fund a costly rare-disease drug that helps only a few patients, or should resources be directed to vaccines that protect millions? These are the hard choices HTA frameworks help navigate.

Kenya is among the African countries beginning to embrace HTA, recognizing its role in universal health coverage. In 2022, the Ministry of Health partnered with the International Decision Support Initiative to strengthen local capacity in evaluating new technologies. This matters in settings where resources are tight and the margin for waste is slim.

Critics however argue that HTA slows down access to new treatments. But its defenders counter that rushing untested, overpriced interventions into the system risks both patient harm and financial strain. “HTA doesn’t block innovation,” notes a NIH journal, “it ensures innovation delivers real value.”

In a world where new technologies, from gene therapies to AI-driven diagnostics, are arriving at breakneck speed, HTA is becoming less of a policy option and more of a necessity. It’s the referee ensuring that health systems don’t just chase the shiny and new, but invest in what truly improves lives.

So the next time you hear about a breakthrough drug or gadget making headlines, remember: somewhere in the background, HTA is asking the quiet but vital question, is it worth it?