Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Health Economics Methods Advisory (HEMA) group is an independent body of methodologists, policy experts, and researchers. HEMA critically and independently evaluates new methods and processes for health technology assessment (HTA).

HEMA seeks to evaluate new methods for economic evaluation in HTA as an international community before they are considered for local implementation.

The methods used in HTA work need to be evaluated to ensure the results are in the public’s interest. HEMA aims to be the first global group evaluating HTA methods in a fully independent, credible, and publicly accessible way.

HEMA was convened by Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC), the U.S.-based Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), and England’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

A multi-stakeholder steering committee, comprised of representatives from the patient, payer, and life sciences communities, provides advice to HEMA on future topics of interest as well as key considerations for any work already underway.

HTA (Health Technology Assessment) is an established practice, conducted by many agencies and research organizations worldwide, to assess and generate evidence to inform decisions about what new medicines and other interventions should be funded from available resources, and at what prices.

Some organizations use economic evaluation as part of HTA, which aims to establish whether the additional benefits generated by (typically new) interventions align with the prices requested, given funding limitations.

The methods of economic evaluation in HTA have developed over time and have always been debated. Some variation in methods across organizations is necessary — it reflects local preferences and priorities.