Topic selection of HTA reports

The DAHTA produces scientific texts on topics suggested by the public. The following questions are answered in these texts:

• What is the topic (e.g. which disease)?
• How many persons are affected?
• Which procedures exist in this area (e.g. treatments)?
• What are the associated costs?
• Who carries these costs?
• What are the current implications for health policy?

Where uncertainties exist, the person suggesting the topic is contacted.

The HTA Board of Trustees receives the scientific texts. Copyright in the topic remains unknown. The committee advises the DAHTA on the topics by means of a systematic and standardised selection procedure:

1. The HTA Board of Trustees prioritises the suggested topics online (step 1), and the DAHTA performs a literature search to investigate whether the topics can be realised
2. The members of the HTA Board of Trustees discuss the topics (step 2)
3. Finally, the topics are prioritised online again (step 3)

As a rule, ten to twelve topics are commissioned per year. The HTA reports are produced by scientists who work closely with the DAHTA. The members of the author group are derived from various specialist areas (e.g. medicine, health economics).