MoPH boosts health tech assessment in Qatar
Doha
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) recently organised a high-level workshop to enhance national capacities in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and health policy in collaboration with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Hoffmann-La Roche.
The workshop formed part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to entrench evidence-based decision-making across healthcare sectors and to promote long-term sustainability and resilience within Qatar's health system.
The workshop aimed to strengthen national capabilities in HTA and health policy. Establishing a dedicated national unit in this field and developing a comprehensive assessment framework with clear standards are part of the twelfth outcome, 'Excellence in Health Research, Development, and Innovation,' under the third priority, 'Efficiency and Resilience of the Health System,' in the National Health Strategy 2024–2030.
The workshop reflected the ministry's commitment to ensuring the effective and equitable allocation of health resources, supporting innovation through effective governance of emerging technologies, and enhancing the overall resilience and sustainability of the health system. It also underscored the importance of multi-sectoral partnerships in achieving national health priorities.
These efforts align with the goals of the Human Development Pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the priorities of the National Health Strategy, particularly in building a high-performing, efficient, person-centred, data-driven health system that is responsive to current and future health needs.
The workshop was opened by Dr Anas Hamad, head of the National Health Technology Assessment Unit Project within the National Health Strategy at the Ministry of Public Health, who emphasised the importance of concerted efforts to achieve the ministry's objectives under its 2024–2030 strategy, improve health system outcomes, and build specialised national capacities in this field.
He said, 'The project to establish a national Health Technology Assessment (HTA) unit is based on the third priority of the National Health Strategy, which focuses on efficiency and resilience, and is part of the twelfth outcome relating to excellence in research, development, and innovation. The HTA project is a pivotal initiative to develop an integrated and reliable framework to support transparent, evidence-based decision-making within Qatar's health system.
'Through systematic evaluation of the clinical, economic, and social impacts of modern health technologies, we aim to ensure the best health value for citizens and residents, and to enhance the sustainability of Qatar's health system. This workshop is a foundational step for this project, which will contribute to achieving a sustainable, high-quality, efficient, patient-centred, and prudent health system that meets the needs of current and future generations.'
Dr Ahmed Tawfiq, general manager of Hoffmann-La Roche in the Gulf region, stressed the importance of unifying efforts between the public and private sectors to develop sustainability frameworks aligned with shared objectives.
He said, 'Today, we are working with our partners at the Ministry of Public Health and the London School of Economics and Political Science to achieve a shared goal of improving healthcare in Qatar, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. By building capacity in health technology assessment, we ensure that the right treatments reach the right patients at the right time, relying on the latest scientific evidence and modern technologies.'
Professor Elias Mossialos, chair in Health Policy and director of the LSE Health Centre at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said: 'The LSE is proud to deliver an intensive two-day training programme for the Ministry of Public Health in Qatar, focusing on key trends in healthcare, disease prevention and early diagnosis, and economic evaluation in healthcare as an essential tool for improving system performance and decision-making, in addition to HTA programmes and value-based frameworks introduced by health innovations.'
Through lectures and discussions over two days, delivered and moderated by Professor Elias Mossialos, Dr Panos Kanavos, and Dr Alex Carter, the workshop provided participants with a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the frameworks, capabilities, and key factors required to build an effective HTA structure. The focus was on applying real-world evidence to inform policy and investment decisions, and laying the foundation for the systematic and organised use of economic evaluation within Qatar's health policy framework.
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