Health Technology Assessment From the Efficiency Lens

Health technology assessment is known as a method that examines the effects and consequences of entering and applying health technology on various aspects, such as improving patient health, service providers’ performance, and also the economic efficiency of the health system. The limitation of resources in health in face of the growing needs of the community and increase in the number of elderly has led to higher budgetary pressure on the health system. In this regard, attention has been paid to improving efficiency (1). Efficiency means increasing the output from a given amount of resources or reducing primary sources for a fixed output. Health technology assessment could improve efficiency through three mechanisms