Stakeholder Roles
Successful HTA implementation requires collaboration among various stakeholders, each playing a crucial role in the process.
Ministry of Health (MoH)
- Lead the HTA process: Coordinate national efforts and ensure HTA is part of health policy and planning
- Set priorities for which technologies or interventions should be assessed
- Use HTA findings to inform decisions on what services to include in Kenya's Universal Health Coverage (UHC) package
- Support implementation through national guidelines, training, and monitoring
- Ensure transparency and fairness in the decision-making process
County Governments
- Provide local data: Counties can provide important information about what works or doesn’t in their health facilities.
- Implement HTA recommendations: Make sure effective and affordable technologies are adopted at local health facilities.
- Help in engaging communities in discussions about health priorities.
Parliament and Policymakers
- Support HTA through legislation: Make laws or policies that ensure HTA is used in health planning.
- Allocate funding to support HTA processes and recommended interventions.
- Hold institutions accountable for using evidence in health decision-making
Health Professionals and Health Facilities
- Share frontline experience: Doctors, nurses, and other health workers provide real-world evidence on how technologies perform.
- Participate in research and data collection to feed into HTA analysis.
- Apply HTA recommendations in service delivery (e.g., prescribing cost-effective medicines).
- Educate patients about recommended technologies or treatments.
Patients and the General Public
- Voice their needs and preferences: This helps ensure HTA considers what matters most to communities (e.g., access, cultural fit).
- Participate in public consultations about health priorities and HTA decisions.
- Advocate for fairness: Push for equal access to effective treatments, especially for vulnerable groups.
Researchers, Academia, and Technical Experts
- Generate and analyze data: Carry out clinical studies, economic evaluations, and social impact assessments.
- Build evidence on which HTA decisions are based.
- Train others: Help build national and county-level capacity in HTA methods (e.g., cost-effectiveness analysis, data modeling).
- Advise decision-makers with independent, evidence-based input.
Medical Supplies and Procurement Agencies
- Use HTA results to inform which products to buy and stock.
- Negotiate better prices for technologies shown to be effective and affordable.
- Ensure availability of recommended products in public health facilities.
Regulatory Bodies
- Ensure safety and quality: Before technologies are assessed for cost-effectiveness, regulators ensure they meet safety and performance standards.
- Work with HTA bodies to align approval and adoption timelines.
Health Insurers and SHA
- Use HTA evidence to determine what services to cover.
- Negotiate coverage plans based on what delivers the best value.
- Promote responsible use of resources by avoiding overuse of low-value treatments
Private Sector and Industry (Pharmaceutical Companies, Device Manufacturers)
- Submit evidence on their products’ effectiveness, safety, and cost.
- Engage transparently with the HTA process without trying to influence decisions unfairly.
- Adapt business models: Set fair prices for technologies based on HTA recommendations and local needs.
Civil Society and Patient Advocacy Groups
- Watchdog role: Ensure the HTA process remains fair, participatory, and accountable.
- Educate communities about HTA and how decisions are made.
- Ensure equity by advocating for inclusion of marginalized groups.
Development Partners and International Organizations
- Provide funding and technical support to build Kenya’s HTA systems and institutions.
- Support capacity-building for researchers and policymakers.
- Promote alignment with Kenya’s national priorities and avoid duplication of efforts.
Together Towards Better Healthcare
Effective governance and stakeholder collaboration are essential for successful Health Technology Assessment implementation in Kenya.