Health technology assessment and screening in Sweden

Objectives: To describe health technology assessment (HTA) and policies concerning three screening procedures in Sweden. Methods: The main source of information was reports from the Swedish Council for Technology Assessment in Health Care (SBU) and other governmental reports, supplemented by the professional literature. Results: Prevention is...

Management of health technologies: An international view

Health technology includes not only equipment, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices but also surgical and medical procedures Most countries regulate drugs and devices by law, by payment, or by placement of services-a new, multidisciplinary research called health technology assessment assists policy makers on matters of the medical, economic,...

Health care technology in Sweden

Health care in Sweden is a public sector responsibility and equity in access to care is quite important. The Swedish system is organized into several levels, with the Federation of County Councils at the top, and with regional, county, and local levels. In theory, the four hospital tiers developed by these different levels provide a clear...

Implications of minimally invasive therapy

The field of minimally invasive therapy (MIT) raises many important issues for the future of health care. It seems inevitable that MIT will replace much conventional surgery. This trend is good for society and good for patients. The health care system, however, may find the change disruptive. The need for hospital beds will shrink. Day surgery...