Australian Government - Department of Health and Ageing

Health Technology Assessment

Australian Government HTA performance

Current Australian Government HTA activity data
Improving performance measurement
Reporting of activity data in 2010-11
Links to current HTA activity data

The Review of Health Technology Assessment in Australia (HTA Review) recommended reporting of performance and accountability data for Australian Government HTA processes to demonstrate system performance and highlight areas requiring improvement.

Current Australian Government HTA activity data

Australian Government HTA processes currently report data for submission and outcome activity, including information about assessment timeframes. Information that reflects the effective operation of an expert advisory committee is also publicly reported. The HTA expert advisory committees operate under the department’s general guidelines for committee operations. These guidelines require secretariats and committee members to have certain actions, responsibilities and meeting time frames. These include, meeting schedules; number of members and appropriate expertise at a meeting; and that conflict of interest is handled efficiently with an explanation of the outcome given.

However data reporting is provided at different times and in different forms. For example, data is provided on websites, in annual reports or industry bulletins and reported following each cycle, quarterly or calendar or financial year. Terminology used to describe different activities is often inconsistent.

The following table provides links to the relevant websites where current Australian Government HTA activity data is reported.

Improving performance measurement

The HTA Review recommended the establishment of a performance measurement framework that effectively measures the achievement of Australian Government HTA processes against core principles recommended by the HTA Review. These principles are:
  • sustainability
  • transparency and accountability
  • administrative efficiency
  • flexibility and fit for purpose and
  • evidence-based.
Performance measures demonstrate the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of Australian Government processes and supports transparency and accountability. Performance measures ensure that the Australian Government HTA system continues to reflect the Government’s strategic policy framework.

Implementation of the HTA Review recommendations commenced in mid 2010, and is continuing to the end of 2011. New functions have been introduced (for example, the establishment of the HTA Access Point) and existing functions and processes are being streamlined (for example, management of conflict of interest).

The performance measurement framework will be developed once consistent processes are in place across the HTA system, which requires other Review recommendations to be substantially implemented. The development of the performance measurement framework will be undertaken with stakeholder consultation.

Reporting of activity data in 2010-11

The department will report against agreed activity data for 2010-11 for all in-scope Australian Government HTA processes with the first annual report to be published on the HTA website by late 2011. Activity data which will be reported includes:

A – Submission Activity

  • The total number of submissions (applications) through each expert advisory committee.
  • The number by type of submissions through each expert advisory committee.

B – Outcome Activity

  • The number of submissions recommended, rejected, deferred or withdrawn through each expert advisory committee.
  • The number of submissions by type compared with the number that are ultimately recommended, not recommended, deferred or withdrawn.

C – Expert Advisory Committee Operation Activity

  • List of current members and a brief description of expertise.
  • The operation of the committee explained in the guidelines – Terms of Reference.
  • The outcomes of meetings - public summary documents.
  • The schedule of future meeting dates and other important timelines.
  • Opportunity for stakeholder input.
  • Opportunity for consumer input.

Links to current HTA activity data

The following table provides links to the relevant websites where current Australian Government HTA activity data is reported.
HTA process 2008-09 Annual Report Performance Information Submission activity Outcomes activity Committee operations Reporting timeframes
TGA Population Health Regulatory Activities
Outcome 1 Page 53		 Not publicly reported at this time

Currently revising reporting requirements		 Currently revising reporting requirements for devices

AusPAR provides information about the evaluation of a prescription medicine		 Advisory Committee on Medical Devices - role membership and meeting dates

Further information on Advisory Committee Prescription Medicines recommendations		 Activity data formerly reported quarterly by financial years
PBAC Access to Pharmaceutical Services
Outcome 2 Page 67		 PBAC Key Activity Indicators (KAIs) Outcomes and Public Summary Documents PBAC outcomes by meeting

PBAC membership

PBS for consumers (agenda for forthcoming meetings)

PBAC Guidelines		 After each PBAC cycle

KAIs reported annually by calendar years
MSAC Access to Medical Services
Outcome 3 Page 83		 Current assessments Performance reports

Assessment reports, public summary documents and one page summaries		 Meeting dates and locations

MSAC membership

MSAC Guidelines		 Reported when available

MSAC Performance Report is an annual publication by financial year
PLAC - formerly the PDC Private Health
Outcome 9 Page 155		 Prostheses List information

Key dates in the cycle

PLAC Bulletin includes activity information on submissions 		PLAC Bulletin includes activity information on outcomes Prostheses List Guidelines including membership of PLAC and important dates within the PLAC cycle

and

Prostheses Guide		 After each Prostheses List is published – six monthly
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Page currency, Latest update: 04 November, 2011