The SCAN-2030 team was pleased to contribute to the Health Technology Assessment international (HTAi) 2026 Annual Meeting held in Istanbul, Türkiye.

Effie Cheung Ka Yue presented the oral presentation entitled “Mapping Governance and HTA Lifecycle Processes in National HTA Systems: A Ten-Country Comparative Analysis.” The study examined and compared the governance structures, assessment processes, institutional arrangements, stakeholder engagement mechanisms, and lifecycle management practices across ten established and emerging HTA systems worldwide.

The research identified substantial variation in how countries organise and operationalise HTA, particularly regarding governance authority, evidence generation, stakeholder participation, and the integration of horizon scanning, reassessment, and real-world evidence throughout the technology lifecycle. The findings highlighted opportunities for strengthening HTA system design and supporting evidence-informed healthcare decision-making.

The presentation attracted interest from international delegates, policymakers, researchers, and HTA practitioners, contributing to discussions on the evolution of HTA systems and the importance of aligning governance, evidence generation, and lifecycle management to improve healthcare resource allocation.

Participation in HTAi 2026 provided a valuable platform to share Hong Kong’s research contributions, exchange experiences with global HTA leaders, and foster international collaboration in health technology assessment and health policy research.