Lack of proper health service evaluation

IRELAND is one of the few developed countries that has no proper system for assessing whether our health service is effective or offers value for money, the state’s health service watchdog has admitted.

According to Dr Patricia Harrington, from the Health Information and Quality Authority, Ireland lags behind because up to now it “has had no systematic processes for evaluating the clinical and cost-effectiveness of its health service”.

Dr Harrington was speaking at an international conference in Croke Park organised by the Irish Platform for Patients’ Organisations, Science and Industry, which examined the role of health technology assessments and their impact on Ireland’s healthcare system.

A health technology assessment involves a scientific evaluation of medical technologies to assess their effectiveness, appropriateness and efficiency, as well as their social and ethical aspects and implications.

The authority has begun to roll out health technology assessment in Ireland. It will also advise on the rationale for continuing with existing practices, to ensure people are not being treated with outdated therapies, drugs or procedures.

Dr Harrington said health technology assessments inform decision makers on safe and effective health policies that are patient-focused and achieve best value.

And the assessment would be applied across the entire spectrum of medical technologies — not just drugs.

Dr Harrington pointed out that up to now there was no transparency in relation to previous decisions.

“It is not a case of questioning the decisions that have been made, but we want to make sure that going forward that it is an open and transparent process,” she said.

Each decision would be backed up by good evidence to show that they were safe and effective for patients. It would also ensure that health resources are used wisely.

The system would also ensure that patients had equitable access to medication and health technologies, regardless of what hospital they attended.

Eric Low, of Myeloma UK, who was speaking at the conference on behalf of patient advocacy groups, said ensuring patients have access to the right treatment at the right time where there is a strong clinical need should be the goal.

“This should not be regardless of cost but cost must not be the primary factor,” he stressed.