History and structure
Health Services Assessment Collaboration (HSAC) is a research initiative that was established in 2007 by Dr Ray Kirk, Dr Adele Weston, and Dr Sarah Norris and is based at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. It works under the umbrella of the Health Sciences Centre, University of Canterbury which fosters health-related interdisciplinary initiatives within the University and beyond.
An Australian HTA company, Health Technology Analysts Pty Ltd (http://www.htanalysts.com), is the collaborative partner in this initiative. This Sydney based consultancy offers a range of HTA services to Australasian and international clients.
Co-Directors Dr Ray Kirk, Adele Weston and Sarah Norris and their research teams bring together expertise in HTA, epidemiology, health economics, health services evaluation, medicine and public health.

Purpose and Functions
HSAC assists New Zealand health and disability services by identifying and reviewing the evidence of health interventions and disseminates these findings as systematic reviews and economic evaluations.
The collaboration reviews clinical and economic evidence relating to health care. This information is used by others, including the Ministry of Health, to make decisions about health purchasing, policy and practice.
HSAC Staff also contribute to methodological developments in the field of health technology assessment.

How HSAC works?
All HTA work initially involves the development of a formal a priori evaluation protocol. Literature searches are comprehensive, systematic and fully documented. Data extraction occurs in a standardised fashion, with levels of evidence and quality assessed in accordance with well-organised methodology (typically that of Australian National Health and Medical Research Council). Statistical meta-analyses are undertaken where possible and appropriate.
All deliverables have internal peer review by senior staff. Some HTA deliverables will have advisory panels, and others external peer reviews. From time to time HSAC work will be submitted for publication in peer-review journals, or presented at international HTA conferences.

Dissemination Activities
HSAC´s research is disseminated as systematic reviews, systematic review updates, technical briefings, horizon scanning reports and economic evaluations. Visit HSAC´s website to read about or download its research findings www.healthsac.net.

Current projects:

• The effectiveness of digital hearing aids and assistive listening devices for adults with hearing loss (A systematic review)
• Effectiveness of different interventions on ambulatory sensitive hospitalisations (A systematic review)
• Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (A systematic review)