Aalborg, Denmark
”We aim to support the patients, healthcare professionals and the healthcare system in Denmark with recommendations on the use of health technology, that encompasses the use of a solid and systematic approach to the HTA-discipline”.
History & Structure
The Danish Health Technology Council (DHTC) was established by Danish Regions in November 2020. Since then, the organization has grown to 30 employees within various backgrounds, that enables us to conduct robust and professional HTAs. These HTAs are the basis for the recommendations, that the Council (Board) distribute to the national healthcare system.
The structure within the DHTC consists of a Secretariat with two departments: Evidence and Methods, and Strategy, Processes and Staff. Furthermore there is a smaller department, (In)Equality in Health, who has the responsibility of producing one yearly report on the issue of inequality in healthcare.
Besides the Secretariat, there are temporary Clinical Committees established for each initiated HTA. These Clinical Committees consists of healthcare professionals, patients, and other experts within the given therapeutic or technical field. The experts are responsible for scoping the HTAs (PICO) and qualification of the various findings.
Finally, the Council is the decision-making unit. They are responsible for deciding which HTAs to initiate and make recommendations on national use, based on the HTA reports. The Council consists of regional medical directors, representatives from the medical scientific community, patient organisations, nursing society, professional experts, and three observers (The Danish Health Authority, The Danish Medicines Agency, and the Danish Medical Device Industry)
Mission
Ensure efficient delivery of health care services for the available resources
How the agency works
The DHTC initiates HTAs using the following three approaches:
- Applicant-initiated HTAs
Based on requests made by either the industry or Danish health care system. The Council decide if an HTA should be initiated or not. The applicant produces a submission dossier, based on a evaluation design made by the Secretariat and Clinical Committee. The HTA report consists of the applicant’s submission dossier and a subsequent report on the finding. - Self-initiated HTAs
Based on pitches, made by Council members, or identified international HTAs, the Council can initiate HTAs that are carried out by the Secretariat and the Clinical Committee. - Themes elicited from regional healthcare management
For the full HTAs, the DHTC annually collects HTA-themes from the regional healthcare managements in Denmark. These themes are compiled
Dissemination activities
The result of the DHTC’s HTA reports and recommendations on the use of health technology are disseminated via various channels.
In conjunction with the formation of the DTHC, a network of regional project managers and medical directors are responsible for disseminating and implementing the recommendations out in the Danish health care system.
A list of recently completed or milestone HTA reports
In 2023, the Danish Health Technology Council published it’s first four full HTAs and subsequent recommendations on the use of health technology. Three of the four recommendations were negative, meaning less value for money and no need for further implementation. The last recommendation was positive, concerning the use of sensor-based glucose monitoring devices for adults with type-1 diabetes, meaning national implementation is expected.
A list of (selected) current projects
Evaluations (HTAs with either applicant or driven by Secretariat)
- Optune® – treatment for glioblastomas
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation for adults with treatment-resistant depression
- Selfback app – management of lower back pains
- Non-operative treatment of distal radius fracture for patients over 65 years
Analysis (full HTAs driven by Secretariat)
- Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea
- The use of online treatment for mild-moderate depression
- Potentials within increased use of POC-tests
Agency Information
Country: Denmark
Description of population served: We serve Danish citizens, patients and society by providing recommendations on the use of health technology in the hospital setting.
Population served (mil): 5.8
Current HTA budget (SHTG and SMC) (mil USD): 3.8
Permanent staff (SHTG and SMC): 30
Consultants: 0
Ongoing TA projects: currently have 15 active technology assessments
Contact Information
Director: Malene Møller Nielsen
Contact person:Nikolaj Hellmuth Skak
Email: kontakt@behandlingsraadet.dk
The Danish Health Technology Council
Niels Jernes Vej 6a, 9220 Aalborg Øst
Denmark
Tel: +45 7021 0800
Internet: https://behandlingsraadet.dk/