In support of and following Universal Health Coverage Day, on 13 December 2024, WHO/Europe, in collaboration with the WHO Office on Quality of Care and Patient Safety in Athens, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM), and the Ministry of Health of Greece, will hold the First Stakeholder Workshop titled “Strengthening of the National Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Framework in Greece”.
Taking place in Athens, this workshop will present the findings of the situation analysis of Greece's HTA system and consider the implications of the European Union HTA Regulation (EU HTAR). This event represents a milestone in an ongoing multistakeholder effort to align Greece’s HTA processes with the HTAR to ensure the country’s readiness for implementation by 2025.
Greece’s HTA system plays a critical role in health-care decision-making, including the evaluation, selection, pricing and procurement of medicines and medical devices. While Greece’s HTA aligns with key principles of the EU HTAR, some gaps still need to be addressed to ensure full compliance. WHO/Europe, in partnership with the Government of Greece and with funding from the European Union (DG REFORM) via the Technical Support Instrument, is facilitating this alignment.
This initiative aims to streamline HTA assessments, reduce delays, and improve patient access to cost–effective treatments and medical devices, ultimately improving population health and strengthening the sustainability of Greece’s health-care system.
Meeting details
This meeting will bring together key stakeholders to review the findings of the HTA situation analysis, identify alignment needs, and agree on actionable next steps. The half-day event will feature presentations, moderated discussions, and interactive sessions, facilitating dialogue and knowledge exchange among participants, and will conclude with a networking lunch to encourage ongoing collaboration. Over 100 people are expected to attend in person, with another couple of hundred joining virtually, representing Greek government agencies, patient advocacy groups, industry associations, academic institutions, the European Commission, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and WHO/Europe.