Korea_flag Seoul, Korea

NECA is the national research agency that was established to provide authentic and quality information about medical devices, medicines, and health technology through objective and reliable analysis.

 

The National Evidence-based healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA) contributes to the efficient use of national medical resources and the protection and enhancement of national health through proposing scientific evidences.

  • Presenting directions for sustainable growth of the healthcare sector
  • Providing optimal evidence through comparative assessment of medical technologies
  • Establishing a globally competitive system for healthcare technology assessments

History and Structure

NECA was established in 2009 by the Korean government as an independent agency collaborating with the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare. NECA has two main bodies: core research body (focuses on Health Technology Assessment, Collaboration Research, and RAPID) and Center for New Health Technology (supporting the Committee for New Health Technology Assessment).

NECA consists of approximately 100 staff with a diverse background (including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, Bayesian statistics, economics, medical engineering, information science, and so on).

Mission

We provide:

  • Accurate information to the public
  • Rational evidence to healthcare providers
  • Efficiency to the government

How NECA Works

Health Technology Assessment (HTA)

Collaboration Research (NC). A collaborative research with other public organizations both domestic and international. Typically, resources from both NECA and extramural organization(s) are used to perform this type of a research. Many of the NC researches have been initiated by Korean decision-makers such as the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), the National Congress and so on.

RAPID (Rapid Assessment & Production of High Quality Information Demanded Program). The Rapid Assessment & Production of High Quality Information Demanded Program (RAPID) is a program for urgent requests that provides the best evidence in a timely manner.

nHTA (new Health Technology Assessment). The purpose of the Center for nHTA is to systematically review the safety and effectiveness for new health technologies introduced into the health care market in Korea based on literatures. The center promotes the results and also tries to develop the method and criteria for nHTA. The result of the safety and effectiveness of each new health technology is publicized by the Ministry of Health & Welfare as a public notice and it is also applied to decide the benefits.

Horizon Scanning. NECA started to undertake horizon scanning for early detection of developments and trends regarding emerging technologies from the year of 2014.

Dissemination Activities

We have the following main channels for dissemination of our information:

  • Our web page: www.neca.re.kr/eng
  • A biannual publication: Evidence and Values in Healthcare
  • Appraisal committee meetings and occasional round-table conferences
  • Educational workshops on research methods

Current Projects

  • Developing the English version of the manual for Bayesian meta-analysis method
  • Multi-center, single-arm clinical trial of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer
  • Outcomes research of thyroid ultrasonography for screening
  • Outcomes research for complications of inhaled bronchodilators /corticosteroids
  • Current healthcare utilization state and outcomes analysis for patients with spinal tumors
  • Diagnostic accuracy and economic evaluation of Vertebral Fracture Assessment in postmenopausal women and elderly men
  • Clinical Effectiveness and Safety of Robotic Surgery
  • Cost-effectiveness of conventional cytology and HPV DNA testing for cervical cancer screening in South Korea
  • Diagnostic usefulness of brain FDG-PET for dementia
  • Economic Evaluation of Carotid Artery Stenting compared with Carotid Endarterectomy in patients with carotid artery stenosis
  • Comparative effectiveness of medication therapies in the rheumatoid arthritis patients
  • Comparative effectiveness research of computer assisted navigation in knee arthroplasty

International Collaborations

NECA is the founding member of HTAsiaLink (Network of HTA agencies in Asia-Pacific region) and inaugurated as Secretariat. NECA has been accepted as a member of EuroScan at the EuroScan 2013 Annual Meeting held in Paris.

Future Plans

NECA plans to actively collaborate with other HTA agencies.

 

Agency Information

NECA

Country: Korea
Description of population served: National
Population served (mil): 52
Current HTA budget (mil USD): 11
Permanent staff: 79
Consultants: 50
Ongoing TA projects: 12

Contact information

Director: Hayoung Choi
Contact person: Sou Hyun Lee

National Evidence-based healthcare Collaborating Agency
NECA
Namsan Square (Kukdong B/D) 7F
173 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu Seoul Korea

Tel: +82-2 2174 2700
Fax: +82-2 747 4916
Internet: http://www.neca.re.kr
Email: int@neca.re.kr