The project “Strengthening the National Implementation Framework of the European Union Regulation on Health Technology Assessment (ATY) 2021/2282” is starting, as announced by the Secretary-General for Strategic Planning of the Ministry of Health and coordinator of the project, Dr. Aris-Nikolaos Aggelis, within the scope of the “1st Athens Patient Forum: Focus on Quality of Care, Patient Safety and Experiences” organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Hellenic Patients Association.
According to Aggelis, the project is part of the new European Regulation 2021/2282, which is expected to be implemented in European member states in January 2025.
The benefits that will accrue to Member States, patients and the pharmaceutical industry alike through the acceleration of the ATY process and timely access to innovative health technologies are many and important.
As I said, the new European Regulation promotes a more transparent, scientifically documented and equitable approach to the assessment and introduction of innovative technologies. This new initiative to strengthen ATY in our country is an important development for improving decision-making in the health sector.
“With the cooperation and experience we have gained from other European experiences, we can strengthen our national capacity to successfully implement the Regulation. The contribution of the European Union, through DG REFORM, and the WHO is crucial for the success of this effort”, Mr Aggelis stressed.
The project is supported by Dr Nathalie Berger, Director for Member State Reform Support at the European Commission, who stressed the importance of the project as a cornerstone for improving citizens’ health, as well as Dr João Breda, Head of the Office for Quality of Care and Patient Safety at the World Health Organization in Athens and Dr Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, Director of Health Policy and Health Systems at WHO, who highlighted the need for continuous improvement and adaptation of health policies to new technologies and developments.
Finally, Dr Tarang Sharma, responsible for access to medicines and health products at the WHO Regional Office for Europe, stressed the importance of the working partnership between the Ministry of Health, WHO and the European Commission for the success of the project, which began in September 2024 with the assessment of the needs of the entities involved and the analysis of the existing situation, and is expected to conclude in February 2026 with the pilot application of the methods and framework that will be developed in medicines and medical devices.
