Transforming Disciplinary Traditions Comment on "Problems and Promises of Health Technologies: The Role of Early Health Economic Modeling"

Abstract

Grutters et al show that economic assessments can inform the development of new health technologies at an early stage. This is an important contribution to health services and policy research, which implies a "shift away" from the more traditional forms of academic health economic modeling. Because transforming established disciplinary traditions is both valuable and demanding, we invite scholars to further the discussion on how the value of health innovations should be appraised in view of today’s societal challenges.

Exploratory, Participatory and Iterative Assessment of Value: A Response to Recent Commentaries

“…To achieve such as role, we do agree with Lehoux and Silva that we need to "transform our scholarly traditions. " 4 In our opinion this is not restricted to broadening our notion of value, but also includes for example our definition and assessment of uncertainty. In this, early health economic modeling can learn from other disciplines that provide decision support.…”

“…We fully agree with Lehoux and Silva when they state that it is important to raise questions about the kinds of health innovations our systems of innovation should deliver. 4 Otherwise, as a society we risk developing brilliant solutions for non-existing or relatively marginal problems. 15 But also when an assessment is technology-driven, it is important to explore, already in the earliest stages of development, whether the intended innovation is deemed valuable and relevant by different stakeholders, and what possible barriers and facilitators could be for its use.…”

“…e were deeply honoured that so many reputable scholars read our article and took the effort to write no less than eight thoughtful and interesting commentaries. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Writing the original paper was sometimes a struggle, because it was an unconventional paper. However, we felt a strong urge to make these assessments -that are often confidential and not publicly available -public, and share our experiences to advance this important and timely field of research.…”

“…3 Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 4 Department for Health Evidence, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.…”

Methods for Early Assessment of the Societal Value of Health Technologies: A Scoping Review and Proposal for Classification

“…1,2,[4][5][6][7] Although novel technologies may need to prove cost-effectiveness in publicly funded healthcare systems, there may be different perspectives on an innovation's added value that are not fully captured in health economic models. 3,8,9 In addition to health economic modeling (further referred to as "modeling"), the contextual expertise of different stakeholders produces valuable insight into an innovation's expected societal value. 10 In particular, a mixed-methods approach enables assessors to separate enthusiasm about innovation in general or the ingenuity of an innovative surgical instrument from the shared perception that there is no problem in current care and that the innovation will not add health benefit to patients.…”