The 9th Cracow HTA Symposium was held on June 20-21, 2023 in Manggha Museum in Cracow. There were over 20 speakers, over 100 participants and over 14 hours of great content and discussions on HTA, market access, artificial intelligence, real-world data, early access to drugs and clinical issues on orphan and oncological diseases treatment.
As the event was charitable, thanks to all sponsors, speakers and attendees for their participation and generosity during the Symposium, we managed to support charity with a donation of PLN 30,000.
Symposium featured six sessions focusing on various topics related to healthcare technology assessment.
The session on „Reimbursement in Poland – changes or stagnation?” including experts from the Polish ISPOR Chapter, Ministry of Health, National Health Fund, and HTA agency. The conclusion highlighted that the reimbursement system in Poland is evolving in terms of funding and treatment coverage. The Ministry of Health has made significant efforts to shorten the reimbursement process duration to comply with the statutory 180 days requirement. The Ministry is also open to suggestions for improving the system, including establishing a clear plan for the upcoming years. Additionally, there is a need for a transparent reimbursement process for medical devices.
The „Joint Clinical Assessment (JCA) – EU perspective” session involved European HTA specialists. The session outlined that the Joint Clinical Assessment, expected to be implemented in 2025, raises questions about its extent of adoption in member countries and the role it will play in HTA processes across the European Union. The impact of the JCA on access to innovative drugs was also discussed, exploring whether it will lead to divergence or convergence in drug availability across the EU.
The „RWD and open data in Poland and CEE region” session, explored the development of real-world data (RWD) and open data. The session highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the use of RWD and data collection efforts. Patient trust in participating in studies involving their health data has greatly improved. Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries are expected to play a significant role in the European Union due to their active involvement in data collection.
The session on „AI in Evidence Synthesis and Medicine” involved experts from the University of Granada, the Polish Hospital Federation, and Osiris. The session emphasized that artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a future concept but is already being applied in systematic literature reviews (SLR), HTA, and medicine. AI is seen as a tool that can enhance the capabilities of specialists rather than replace them.
The session on „The CEE and CA region: early access program – a new opportunity” took place in collaboration with INAR partners in the CEE and Central Asia regions. The session emphasized the benefits of early access to drugs for patients in Central Europe and Central Asia before formal regulatory approval. The diverse healthcare infrastructures and resources within these regions call for discussions on regional collaborations, policy harmonization, and equitable access to ensure improved healthcare outcomes for all patients.
The „Oncological & orphan drugs – medical perspective” session involved clinical experts and patients’ organizations. The session concluded that education and improved diagnostics are crucial for enhancing the management of orphan and oncological diseases in Poland.
Overall, the 9th Cracow HTA Symposium covered a wide range of topics related to healthcare technology assessment, highlighting the development of reimbursement systems, the implementation of joint clinical assessment in the EU, advancements in RWD and AI, the opportunities of early access programs, and the medical perspective on oncological and orphan drugs. This event will be remembered.
See you next year at our Grand 10th Jubilee HTA Cracow Symposium!
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