Background: Health Technology Assessment (HTA) serves as a critical tool for informing healthcare decision-making by evaluating the clinical and economic impact of healthcare interventions. Despite its global importance, the implementation and impact of HTA in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region remain relatively understudied.
Objectives: This systematic review aims to comprehensively examine the current status, challenges, and future prospects of HTA in APAC countries.
Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across major databases including PubMed, Embase, and regional databases to identify relevant studies published up to January 2023. Studies focusing on HTA practices, policies, and challenges in APAC countries were included. Data extraction and synthesis were performed to analyze key findings, methodological approaches, and emerging trends.
Results: The review reveals a growing interest and adoption of HTA in the APAC region, driven by increasing healthcare demands, economic growth, and the need for evidence-based decision-making. However, considerable heterogeneity exists in HTA methodologies, institutional frameworks, and capacity across countries, presenting challenges to harmonization and collaboration. Limited data availability, cultural diversity, and political factors further complicate HTA implementation and uptake in the region. Nonetheless, several countries have made significant strides in establishing HTA agencies, developing guidelines, and conducting HTA studies to support healthcare decision-making.
Conclusions: This systematic review underscores the heterogeneous landscape of HTA implementation in the APAC region, highlighting the need for concerted efforts to address methodological, institutional, and contextual barriers. Collaborative initiatives, capacity building, and knowledge sharing are essential for advancing HTA practices and fostering evidence-informed decision-making across diverse healthcare systems in the APAC region. Future research should focus on evaluating the effectiveness of HTA initiatives, promoting policy convergence, and enhancing regional cooperation to maximize the potential of HTA in improving healthcare outcomes and resource allocation in APAC countries.
