Health technology assessments (HTAs)

Framework for consumer engagement in HTA

This framework guides consumer engagement across health technology assessment (HTA) processes in Australia.

Consumer engagement helps ensure HTA decisions reflect the needs, experiences and priorities of patients, their carers, families and communities.

We have developed a framework that sets out principles, focus areas and actions to guide consumer engagement in HTA. 

This framework applies to everyone involved in HTA. It recognises that consumer engagement is strengthened by the contributions of all stakeholders.

What led us here

The development of this framework was marked by several key turning points.

The need for a framework was identified

Many policies and reports recommended strengthening how we engage consumers across HTA, including:

Building on this, 3 key reports clearly said that a consumer engagement framework was needed to make consumer engagement in HTA clearer and stronger. This included:

The Minister announced the framework

The Minister for Health and Ageing announced the government was developing a framework to improve consumer and patient engagement.

We drafted the framework

With guidance from the HTA Consumer Consultative Committee (CCC), we drafted the framework based on recommendations of the 3 key reports, and other national and international frameworks, reports and policies.

We requested your views on the framework

We published a draft framework so you could tell us what you thought and how it could be improved. We received helpful feedback including from patients, carers, consumer and clinical organisations, researchers and industry representatives.

We have published a feedback report explaining:

  • what we heard
  • how we considered feedback
  • how we used the feedback to strengthen the framework

Feedback report – Framework for consumer engagement in HTA

This report provides a summary of feedback received on the draft Framework for Consumer Engagement in Health Technology Assessment. It explains what we heard, how the feedback has been considered, and how it is being used to strengthen the framework and guide future work.

We finalised the framework

We used feedback to improve and finalise the framework. We are also using the feedback to guide upcoming work and develop practical resources to support the use of the framework.

We published the final framework in July 2026.

Contact

HTA Consumer Evidence and Engagement Unit

This unit helps consumers and patients to be part of health technology assessment (HTA) processes. It also supports the Health Technology Assessment Consumer Consultative Committee.
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