BOSTON, LONDON, OTTAWA, May 6, 2026 – The Health Economics Methods Advisory (HEMA) today announced a new research topic: an assessment of approaches to evaluating, presenting, and communicating uncertainty in economic evaluations. This work will provide recommendations for health technology assessment (HTA) organizations on the best approaches for integrating uncertainty as they consider adoption of new technologies. The aim is to publish a final report in the first half of 2027, with preliminary findings and consultation throughout 2026.
“Uncertainties in economic evaluation can come from a range of sources including small sample sizes, limitations in the available evidence and assumptions used in the modeling,” said Mark Sculpher, PhD, Chair of the HEMA Working Group. “There are both established tools and new methods for quantifying these uncertainties; our goal is not only to review those methods, but also to recommend the best ways to use those tools to make better decisions about new medicines.”
HEMA was convened by the leaders of three global HTA organizations to critically and independently examine and assess new methods and processes. The three institutions are the USA-based Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), England’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC). Importantly, because HEMA operates independently, HTA organizations are free to decide whether to implement the guidance, and HEMA is similarly free to decide whether to revise its guidance based on comments received.
This is the second research topic for HEMA; click here to view HEMA’s past research.
Visit HEMA’s website for more information on the HEMA Working Group Guiding Principles.
About ICER
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) is an independent, non-profit research institute that conducts evidence-based reviews of health care interventions, including prescription drugs, other treatments, and diagnostic tests. In collaboration with patients, clinical experts, and other key stakeholders, ICER analyzes the available evidence on the benefits and risks of these interventions to measure their value and suggest fair prices. ICER also regularly reports on the barriers to care for patients and recommends solutions to ensure fair access to prescription drugs.
About NICE
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) helps practitioners and commissioners get the best care to people, fast, while ensuring value for the taxpayer.
We do this by:
- producing useful and usable guidance for health and care practitioners
- providing rigorous, independent assessment of complex evidence for new health technologies
- developing recommendations that focus on what matters most and drive innovation into the hands of health and care practitioners
- encouraging the uptake of best practice to improve outcomes for everyone.
About Canada’s Drug Agency
Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) is an independent, not-for-profit organization responsible for providing Canada’s health care decision-makers with objective evidence to help make informed decisions about the optimal use of drugs and medical devices in our health care systems.