The Department of Health (DOH) officially transferred on Monday, March 6, the operations of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Philippines to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
In a statement, DOH said that this was done through a ceremonial turnover of the HTA Council and HTA Division from the DOH to the DOST the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Manila.
DOH explained that with their transfer to the DOST, the HTA Research Network will be established, which will further strengthen the HTA capacity for the country by partnering with external entities who will help develop and implement training programs and will conduct HTAs.
It added that in the long run, the HTA Philippines envisions performing early HTA, which advances the conduct of assessments of health technologies at the early stages of clinical research and can guide the innovation development process.
Even during its establishment during the COVID-19 pandemic under the management of the DOH, the HTA Council and the HTA Division were able to produce several assessment topics and recommendations.
DOST Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr. expressed his agency's commitment to strengthening the implementation of the HTA process through research, capacity building, and partnerships.
At present, the HTA Philippines is in partnership with the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) for the conduct of selected assessments from the 2023 HTA priority topics through commissioning with external research entities.
DOH Officer-in-Charge-Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire and Solidum spearheaded the said event, in compliance with the UHC Law mandate on the transfer of the HTA Council as an attached agency to the DOST within five years after its establishment.
“Rest assured that the Department of Health (DOH) will continue to provide assistance to the DOST for the smooth transfer of the HTA to the latter. Through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, we will continue to develop and improve our health systems to cater for the needs of every Juan and Juana,” said Vergeire.
UHC legislators, Senator Pia Cayetano and former Congresswoman, Governor of Quezon, Hon. Angelina “Helen” Tan who previously chaired the Committee on Health of the House of Representatives for six years, also gave their messages of support as champions of UHC and HTA Council.
DOST Undersecretary for Scientific and Technical Services Maridon O. Sahagun and DOH Assistant Secretary for Health Regulation Team Atty. Charade Mercado-Grande whose offices the HTA Division directly reports to also participated in the turnover.
DOH and DOST vowed to continue to work together on their mandates, capacity building, and overall continuity of the current efforts with the leadership of Dr. Marita Reyes, the HTA Council Chairperson, and Anne Julienne Genuino-Marfori, the HTA Division Chief.