Working plan of the Spanish Network for Health Technology Assessment in 2019

On the Interterritorial Council that took place March 4th, 2019, the Working Plan for the Spanish Network for Health Technology Assessment was agreed and published.  The working plan includes 22 health technology assessment reports, 7 monitoring studies, 9 clinical practice guidelines, and 1 evidence-based product.

For the development of the Working Plan for the Spanish Network for Health Technology Assessment (HTA), a first step involves the identification and prioritization of the proposed topics for evaluation. For this reason, the technical secretary of the Network asks the General Directorate for Basic Benefits Basket and Pharmacy for a suggested list of topics, which come from suggestions made by the Autonomous Communities. In the first step, 55 topics for evaluation were identified.

After selection and prioritization of topics, those were divided and assigned to the different HTA Agencies according to their expertise.

This year's Working Plan has been configured with the assignment of 22 HTA reports, 7 monitoring studies, 9 clinical practice guidelines, and 1 evidence-based product. Likewise, it has been foreseen the possibility of requesting 12 additional reports for possible evaluation needs that may arise in the first semester of 2019.

HTA reports:

1. Safety, efficacy, effectiveness, and efficiency of the corporal stereotactic radiotherapy in lung, prostate and liver cancer
2. Safety, efficacy, effectiveness, and efficiency of functional radiosurgery in epilepsy, Parkinson's, tremors, trigeminal and glossopharyngeal neuralgia
3. Interventions for early detection and prevention of delirium in hospital admission
4. Cardiac resynchronization therapy associated or not with a defibrillator
5. Evaluation of automated storage and dispensing technologies for medicines in hospital pharmacy services
6. Intraoperative image acquisition technology monitoring
7. The effectiveness of the percutaneous hemodynamic assistance systems as a support for the interventionism and cardiogenic shock procedures
8. Organizational models for the provision of palliative care
9. Mechanical thrombectomy in the early treatment of ischemic stroke
10. Robotic surgery of the spine
11. Computed tomography-guided percutaneous ablation of lung metastases by radiofrequency or microwave in the patient not susceptible to local curative and / or palliative systemic therapy
12. Safety, effectiveness and efficiency of glucometers, coagulometers and gasometers
13. Digital dermatoscopy
14. Angio oct (optical coherence tomography) for the identification of retinal neovessels
15. Development of a diagnostic protocol and follow up of the reactive attachment disorder
16. Safety and effectiveness of laser-induced thermal therapy in epilepsy surgery
17. Telehealth and telemedicine: application of video consultation and new technologies to healthcare. Evaluation of tools or channels for complementary non-face-to-face attention in primary health care
18. Molecular diagnosis by massive sequencing of acute leukemias
19. Cost-effectiveness of neonatal screening for the early detection of severe combined immunodeficiencies
20. Neonatal Screening Program of endocrine-metabolic diseases of the NHS. Clinical efficacy of the inclusion of congenital adrenal hyperplasia in the neonatal screening program of the basic common portfolio of the NHS
21. Cost-effectiveness and budget impact analysis of the inclusion of routine vaccination against HPV in male adolescents
22. Clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of inclusion of neonatal screening of critical congenital heart defects (critical congenital heart disease) in the basic common portfolio of the NHS

Monitoring studies

1. Endobronchial valve for patients with persistent air leakage
2. Closure device (occlusor) for the atrium
3. Biodegradable esophageal stent for benign pathology
4. Percutaneous mitral valve repair system
5. Glucose monitoring system using flash type sensors
6. Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) as permanent destination therapy
7. Spinal-palate ganglion neurostimulator for cluster headaches

Clinical practice guidelines

1. Type I diabetes
2. Chronic Obstructive Disease
3. Suicidal behavior
4. Type II diabetes
5. Palliative Care (2nd phase)
6. Management of stroke patients in primary care (2nd part)
7. Anxiety clinical practice guidelines (2nd part)
8. Prevention and Treatment of Infant and adolescent’s obesity (2nd part)
9. Alzheimer's disease and other dementias clinical practice guidelines (2nd part)

Evidence-based products:

1. Protocol for management of Kawasaki disease

See the document from the Spanish Network for Health Technology Assessment here.

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