Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is no longer a standalone technical tool but has become an indispensable pillar in the governance architecture of modern healthcare systems.
In Vietnam, HTA is regarded as a structural reform tool to ensure that every dong of the budget and health insurance is used rationally, equitably, and oriented towards true value for patients.
Speaking at the International Conference on Health Technology Assessment (HTA) with the theme “Health Technology Assessment in the Digital Age: From Evidence to Policy and Practice” held on December 13, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan emphasized the fundamental shift of HTA on a global scale.
From primarily relying on clinical trials and traditional efficacy indicators, HTA has now evolved into a multidimensional approach.
“HTA has integrated real-world evidence, big data, health economics, and considerations of ethics, equity, and financial sustainability of the entire system,” Mr. Thuan stated.
Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan speaking at the International Health Technology Assessment (HTA) conference
This shift reflects the reality that HTA not only evaluates technology but also directly participates in shaping each nation’s healthcare priorities, grounding all policy decisions on evidence, value, and social accountability.
In the digital age, the core challenge lies not in the quantity of data, but in the institutional and professional capacity to transform data into sound policy decisions.
In Vietnam, the Ministry of Health approaches HTA as a structural reform tool for the healthcare system, not merely a formal administrative procedure.
HTA is being purposefully integrated step-by-step into the process of developing drug and medical device lists; negotiating centralized bidding prices; and designing and adjusting health insurance reimbursement policies.
The goal is to make healthcare resource allocation decisions more transparent, consistent, and scientifically sound.
Associate Professor Dr. Le Khac Cuong, Vice Rector of Hong Bang International University, emphasized: “In the context of increasingly complex diseases, rapidly rising healthcare costs, and strong development of new technologies, HTA has become an indispensable tool to support policy formulation, procurement, price negotiation, and ensuring equitable access for patients.”
Especially, as Vietnam rapidly expands health insurance coverage and the demand for access to new technologies increases, controlling costs and ensuring the financial sustainability of the system become urgent requirements.
“HTA is a crucial scientific cornerstone to ensure that every state budget dong and every health insurance dong is used rationally, equitably, and oriented towards true value for patients,” Deputy Minister Thuan affirmed.
The Deputy Minister of Health committed to promoting HTA as an important pillar in healthcare system reform, while also expanding international cooperation to contribute Vietnam’s voice and experience to the overall development of the regional and global HTA community.
The third International Conference on Health Technology Assessment (HTA), themed “Health Technology Assessment in the Digital Age: From Evidence to Policy and Practice,” took place over two days, December 13-14.
The event included two plenary sessions and five specialized sessions with approximately 40 scientific reports, attracting over 400 domestic and international delegates.
The conference focused on discussing the role of HTA in the context of digital health transformation, where data increasingly forms the basis for decisions regarding reimbursement, procurement, and resource allocation within the healthcare system.
