Scanning the horizon—Development and implementation of an early awareness system for anticancer drugs in Austria

Abstract Background Due to increasing expenditures for cancer therapies, an instrument was needed in Austria to facilitate the evidence-based use of new anticancer drugs and to pre-estimate their financial implications. Objectives To describe and analyse the development and implementation of a Horiz...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health policy (Amsterdam) 2012-01, Vol.104 (1), p.1-11
Main Authors: Nachtnebel, Anna, Geiger-Gritsch, Sabine, Hintringer, Katharina, Wild, Claudia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adjustment
Antineoplastic Agents - economics
Appropriations and expenditures
Austria
Cancer
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Decision making
Drugs
Drugs, Investigational - economics
Early awareness
Evaluation
Evidence-based
Evidence-Based Medicine
Experts
Health administration
Health technology assessment
Horizon Scanning System
Humans
Information sources
Internal Medicine
Medical Oncology - economics
Medical Oncology - trends
Medical personnel
Medical treatment
Oncology
Pharmaceuticals
Screening
Technology Assessment, Biomedical - trends
Technology, Pharmaceutical - trends
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Summary:Abstract Background Due to increasing expenditures for cancer therapies, an instrument was needed in Austria to facilitate the evidence-based use of new anticancer drugs and to pre-estimate their financial implications. Objectives To describe and analyse the development and implementation of a Horizon Scanning System (HSS) in Austria that allows for the evaluation of new anticancer drugs before their routine introduction into clinical practice in order to inform decision-makers. Methods Common stages involved in HSSs were identified by a literature review and in cooperation with experts. A first concept for an HSS in Oncology was developed and piloted, and further adjustments were made after several feedback rounds with experts in oncology. Results To specifically tailor the five common stages of HSSs to the needs of our HSS, a continually evolving process was required. Now, 21 information sources are regularly scanned, the information is retrieved and extracted in a standardised format, and only anticancer drugs in phase III are included and prioritised by a team of eight experts. Since the HSS in Oncology was implemented as a standard practice, 19 assessments on novel cancer therapies with likely therapeutic and/or financial impacts have been published. Conclusions The successful implementation of an HSS necessitates a repetitive cycle of adjustments in order to meet the objectives set by the individual HSS.
ISSN:0168-8510
1872-6054
DOI:10.1016/j.healthpol.2011.11.003