Health technology assessment (HTA)

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Health technology assessment (HTA) involves the systematic evaluation of medical procedures and technologies. HTA is widely regarded as an important tool for evidence-based policy advice and policymaking.

Among the health policy priorities defined in the Federal Council’s Health2030 strategy are the strengthening of medical services and the exertion of influence on cost development. HTA provides a transparent analysis of the efficacy, appropriateness and cost-effectiveness of a medical service. The results can help to ensure that mandatory reimbursement is limited or terminated for services which are not effective or cost-effective. Restricting such services improves the quality and reduces the costs of healthcare. In order to evaluate medical services, the federal authorities launched an HTA programme. 


HTA news

Are you interested in receiving regular updates from the Swiss HTA programme? If yes, please subscribe here to our newsletter!


The legal basis of the programme is Article 32 of the Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG; SR 832.10), which specifies that medical services covered by compulsory health insurance must meet the criteria of effectiveness, appropriateness and economic efficiency. Compliance with these criteria is to be periodically reviewed.

The HTA programme focuses in particular on the re evaluation of services which may not meet the relevant criteria. The aim is to eliminate such services from the List of Reimbursable Items or to restrict mandatory reimbursement. In addition, the HTA programme evaluates services which are not currently reimbursable.

HTA programme

How does the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme work? What phases does an HTA topic go through prior to a reimbursement decision being made?

HTA topic submission

Would you like to request the assessment of whether a particular service is not effective, cost-effective or suitable for purpose? Then please complete the form on this page.

HTA networks

Our active engagement with various national and international HTA networks ensures not only that knowledge is shared with other HTA agencies but also that HTA methodology is continuously developed.

HTA project overview

Are you interested in what phase a certain HTA project is currently at or do you want to know whether a decision on reimbursement has already been made for a certain HTA project? You will find this information in our project overview table.

HTA projects

All HTA projects in progress or completed are listed below. Published here in the course of each project are the protocol and the HTA report, together with the feedback received from stakeholders.

HTA news

In our newsletter, we present the latest reimbursement decisions in the Swiss HTA programme, update you on our current HTA reports and provide you with an overview of the most recent changes to our HTA programme.

Last modification 06.06.2024

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Contact

Federal Office of Public Health FOPH
Health insurance benefits Division
Health Technology Assessment Section
Schwarzenburgstrasse 157
3003 Bern
Switzerland
Tel. +41 58 469 17 33
E-mail

Print contact

https://www.bag.admin.ch/content/bag/en/home/versicherungen/krankenversicherung/krankenversicherung-leistungen-tarife/hta.html