H&S Midsem

Question 1

What is health technology assessment? How does it facilitate health equity?

Answer 1

• The process of assessing the value of healthcare technology at a specific point in its lifecycle
• Helps to ensure that resources are allocated towards technology that provides the most value to the most people throughout the population, thus increasing health equity

Question 2

What are some key components of the Australia Healthcare System responsible for introducing and evaluating new health technologies?

Answer 2

• TGA: responsible for regulating therapeutic goods such as medications
• Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee: recommendation needed to list a medicine under the PBS
• Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC): enforces requirement for safety, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness before putting service on MBS