Providing information on significant developments in health care; identification of new and changing health technology

In this advisory report, the Central Committee on Medical Technology Assessment (MTA) of the Health Council of the Netherlands (hereafter referred to as ‘the Committee’) responds to the request for advice on the provision of advance notice of emerging innovations in care, issued in mid-2004. In that document, the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport requests the Council to advise him concerning a planned horizon scanning/early warning system for innovations in care that are either just entering the market or that will become available within the foreseeable future. In the present report, the Committee examines both the information need and ways in which this can better be met. This is partly based on a overview of the international situation in the area of horizon scanning. In reaching a verdict, the Committee has made use of individual scientific publications and reports by organizations working in the area in question. Finally, it presents details of a ‘national system’ for the provision of advance notice of emerging innovations, which is to be set up by the Health Council. Elements of this system include scientific process supervision (collecting and filtering information, further evaluation); providing a framework for consultation; and initiating a modular production process that will result in periodic reports.