Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) program was pivotal in providing essential guidance for evidence-based health policy decisions. This Policy Note evaluates the effectiveness of current HTA processes and provides recommendations to enhance the program moving forward. An assessment of stakeholder perceptions and observations on HTA outcomes reveals that end users are generally satisfied with HTA’s value in agenda setting, policy formulation, and institutional fit with the healthcare system. However, they are dissatisfied with the HTA team’s performance in stakeholder engagement, external communication, increasing the capacity of the HTA, and incorporating diverse perspectives into its recommendations. Hence, this Note highlights the urgency of addressing implementation challenges, such as the lack of evidence for appraisals, the time-sensitive nature of releasing recommendations, external pressures, misconceptions regarding HTA’s role, and inadequate stakeholder consultations.
