Alric Rüther
MD, Head,
DAHTA @DIMDI, Germany

Education and career: Studies in philosophy and human medicine in Munich (Germany), Budapest (Hungary), and Alicante (Spain). Training in Internal Medicine and Oncology at the University of Munich and University of Freiburg (Germany). Training in Medical Informatics, and participated in developing the German Cochrane Centre at the Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry, University of Freiburg. Since 1999, with the German Institute for Medical Documentation and Information (DIMDI), Federal Ministry of Health, for developing the field HTA. Since 2001, Head of the German Agency for HTA (DAHTA @DIMDI). Associate Professor at the University of Cologne, Department of Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology; Associate Professor at the University of Bielefeld, faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Health Care Management.
Personal information: Year of birth, 1962; married, three boys (aged 5, 9, and 12 years); hobbies include sailing and music.

Visions for INAHTA

INAHTA continues to grow, with 45 members from 23 countries, and more expected in the future. This situation makes INAHTA’s task of providing a “forum for the identification and pursuit of interests common to health technology assessment agencies” even more important if not somewhat more challenging. In my opinion, we should follow two main strands in the future. The first involves identifying the needs of the individual agencies. As a platform, INAHTA offers the opportunity to express needs and interests plus the possibility to find solutions and support. Being an “HTA family” is important, but not sufficient for such a large and growing number of members. Beyond tools, standards, and utilities, INAHTA should intensify development of communication processes and pathways to guide a question/problem/statement to the group best equipped to generate rapid and accurate results. Hence, the second strand involves integrating INAHTA into the international activities of HTA. Representing the public HTA agencies of the world, INAHTA is a unique organization that draws considerable interest. The connection to HTA networks and projects will lead to methodological exchange and development, and to a reputation that could enhance support for the work of INAHTA members.
These are a few thoughts about future activities of INAHTA. In my opinion, we are facing a prospering period of international collaboration.