Health technology policy, EMBS, 2002

Why is a Health Technology (HT) Policy necessary? What is the rationale for establishing a policy for a country, state or region? HT Policy will: 1) support national health policy & reform in systems and services, by increasing equitable access to sustainable and affordable quality care, and increasing HT capabilities at all levels of the health care system; 2) be consistent with country´s health needs, priorities and resources, and targeted to the solution of health problems of the population; 3) ensure the rational use of limited medical resources HT in health care delivery; 4) simplify coordination of HT resources by central, regional and local health leaders and integrate management of these resources to allow more efficient distribution; 5) be accompanied by a communication plan by the Ministry of Health (MOH) developed to promote advocacy and awareness of the policy among different target groups, (e.g., seeking MOH partnerships with government bodies, NGOs, consumer groups, the private sector, industry, etc.), demonstrating the following benefits of appropriate HT and showing current HT waste (a) financial; b) medical; c) public health); 6) respond to ongoing improvements and change in health care practice using Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM); 7) encourage further development of HT management capacity; 8) provide the framework for HTM, addressing all issues of HT life-cycle, and driving quality improvement within the national HTM system.