Why data is the most cost-effective investment for health technology assessment in South Africa

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2025.v116i3.4628

Keywords:

Cost-effectiveness, health technology assessment, health benefit package

Abstract

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Author Biography

  • E Thsehla, School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa

    Associate Professor, School of Health Systems and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria

References

1. National Department of Health. Health Technology Assessment Methods Guide 2022 - 2027. Pretoria: NDoH, 2022. https://www.health.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/HTA-Methods- Guide_FINAL_Sep-2023.pdf (accessed 16 March 2026).

2. South Africa. National Health Insurance Act No. 20 of 2023.

3. Jugathpal J, Parrish A, Jamaloodien K, Blecher M, Daven J. Institutionalizing health technology

assessment in South Africa – an opportunity in National Health Insurance. Health Syst Reform

2023;9(3):2327098. https://doi.org/10.1080/23288604.2024.2327098

4. Callea G, Armeni P, Marsilio M, Jommi C, Tarricone R. The impact of HTA and procurement practices

on the selection and prices of medical devices. Soc Sci Med 2017;174:89-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.

socscimed.2016.11.038

5. Leelahavarong P, Doungthipsirikul S, Kumluang S, et al. Health technology assessment in Thailand: Institutionalization and contribution to healthcare decision making: Review of literature. Int J Technol Assess Health Care 2019;35(6):467-473. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0266462319000321

6. O’Rourke B, Oortwijn W, Schuller T. Announcing the new definition of health technology assessment. Value Health 2020;23(6):824-825. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jval.2020.05.001

7. Edoka IP, Stacey NK. Estimating a cost-effectiveness threshold for health care decision-making in South Africa. Health Policy Plan 2020;35(5):546-555. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czz152

8. Moolla A, Schneider P, Hofman K, Goldstein SJ, Thsehla E, Dixon S. Derivation of a South African tariff for the EQ-5D-5L using a personal utility function approach. Int J Technol Assess Health Care 2025;41(1):e82. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266462325103292

9. Tantivess S, Chalkidou K, Tritasavit N, Teerawattananon Y. Health technology assessment capacity development in low- and middle-income countries: Experiences from the international units of HITAP and NICE. F1000Res 2017;6:2119. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.13180.1

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Published

2026-03-31

Issue

Section

Editorials

How to Cite

1.
Thsehla E. Why data is the most cost-effective investment for health technology assessment in South Africa. S Afr Med J [Internet]. 2026 Mar. 31 [cited 2026 Apr. 19];116(3):e4628. Available from: https://www.samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/4628