The Australia and New Zealand Horizon Scanning Network

Abstract

UP UNTIL 1982, new health technologies, procedures or services were introduced into the health system in an uncontrolled, unregulated manner. This had the potential for wide-ranging impact on the public health care system including ballooning costs, a lack of preparedness by training and accreditation organisations, and consequent patient safety concerns. Health technology assessment was introduced into Australia in 1982 when the National Health Technology Assessment Panel was formed. This original panel has undergone numerous name changes and evolved into the Australian Government-funded Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC).1 The primary role of the MSAC is to inform the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing on the safety, effectiveness and costeffectiveness of new medical technologies and procedures using the available evidence.2 Assessments of the safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of these technologies may occur only after the technology has diffused and is practised widely.3 Early identification of such technologies may avoid the detrimental consequences of their indiscriminate introduction and could result in the adoption of beneficial and cost-effective technologies and the elimination of technologies that are unsafe or for which there is no evidence of cost-effectiveness.4