Navigating the future: horizon scanning and early dialogue in health technology assessment in Latin America.

Objective: To systematize the information and perspectives shared during the 2024 LATAM policy forum, which explored advancements in horizon scanning and early dialogue processes in the region, by analyzing the main discussion and identifying the main lessons.

Methods: This article is based on the discussions and background materials provided during the 1.5 days in-person 2024 Latin American Policy Forum (59 representatives from 11 countries).

Cost-effectiveness of mepolizumab vs anti-interleukin-5/5r biologic therapies for the treatment of adults with severe asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype: a Chilean healthcare system perspective.

Aim: Asthma is a heterogeneous respiratory condition often classified into distinct phenotypes. Severe asthma, characterized by uncontrolled symptoms despite optimal treatment, imposes a significant burden on healthcare systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of mepolizumab compared with other interleukin (IL)-5 pathway inhibitors, benralizumab and reslizumab, in treating severe asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype in Chile.

Exploring the characteristics of cancer-centred civil society organisations in Chile: A qualitative study.

Background: In Chile, civil society organisations in health have been historically active in population health and specifically in cancer; they have had an important role in addressing patients' and families' necessities. Although they occupy a central role, there is no clarity about who they are, how they are organised, the goals that guide their performance and how they materialize social participation in health. Based on that, this study aimed to explore the characteristics of civil society organisations that work in cancer in Chile and to identify the networks they build with other actors to achieve their goals.

The potential role of biosimilars in healthcare sustainability in Latin America.

Introduction: Latin American (LatAm) countries face significant increases in healthcare expenditure, driven largely by population growth and aging, and the rising prevalence of cancer and other chronic diseases. Growing demand and high costs of biologic medicines present barriers to patient access in this region. Biosimilars can improve the affordability and accessibility of biologics, supporting long-term healthcare sustainability.

Primer on Health Equity Research in Health Economics and Outcomes Research: An ISPOR Special Interest Group Report.

Objectives: Disparities in health and healthcare between more and less socially advantaged groups are pervasive, multidimensional, and far-reaching. The material and social conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age are systematically associated with their health and with the volume, quality, and outcomes of care received by the vast majority of the general population, as well as by specific marginalized populations. The field of health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) has an important role in supporting health equity goals.

Good Practices for Health Technology Assessment Guideline Development: A Report of the Health Technology Assessment International, HTAsiaLink, and ISPOR Special Task Force.

Objectives: Health technology assessment (HTA) guidelines are intended to support successful implementation of HTA by enhancing consistency and transparency in concepts, methods, process, and use, thereby enhancing the legitimacy of the decision-making process. This report lays out good practices and practical recommendations for developing or updating HTA guidelines to ensure successful implementation.

Methods: The task force was established in 2022 and comprised experts and academics from various geographical regions, each with substantial experience in developing HTA guidelines for national health policymaking.

Good Practices for Health Technology Assessment Guideline Development: A Report of the Health Technology Assessment International, HTAsiaLink, and ISPOR Special Task Force.

Objectives: Health technology assessment (HTA) guidelines are intended to support the successful implementation of HTA by enhancing consistency and transparency in concepts, methods, processes, and use, thereby enhancing the legitimacy of the decision-making process. This report lays out good practices and practical recommendations for developing or updating HTA guidelines to ensure successful implementation.

Methods: The task force was established in 2022 and comprised experts and academics from various geographical regions, each with substantial experience in developing HTA guidelines for national health policy making.

Improving Efficiency in Healthcare: Lessons from Successful Health Policies in Chile.

Background: Chile has made significant progress in recent decades in implementing policies to improve the efficiency of its health system with an impact on population health.

Aim: To present five case studies of successful policies whose impact has been documented.

Methods: Case study report.

Challenges for gene therapy in the financial sustainability of health systems: a scoping review.

Aim: To review the available evidence about the strategies implemented or proposed for coverage or reimbursement for currently approved gene therapies.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted to analyze the evidence published during the years 2016 to 2023. The main search criteria were coverage or reimbursement of gene therapy by healthcare systems.

Harnessing Health Technology Assessment in Latin America and the Caribbean: Keeping the Region on Course.

Latin America and the Caribbean has made significant progress toward universal health coverage (UHC), but health spending efficiency, equity, and sustainability remain major challenges-and progress is hindered by the difficult macroeconomic context. Health technology assessment (HTA) can make resource allocation more efficient and equitable when systematically used to inform coverage decisions. We highlight five considerations that need to be taken into account to realize the full potential of HTA in the LAC region: i) explicitly link HTA to decision-making and anchor it in legal frameworks, ii) systematically incorporate the opportunity cost as a core principle into HTA activities informing coverage decisions, iii) make the internationally available evidence more fit for purpose for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), iv) incorporate pragmatism as a key principle of HTA activities in the region, and v) institutionalize the monitoring of HTA processes and results.

Chilean consensus by expert panel using the Delphi technique for primary and secondary prevention of gastric cancer.

Introduction: Gastric cancer (GC) is the first cause of cancer-related death in Chile and 6 in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the main gastric carcinogen, and its treatment reduces GC incidence and mortality.

The legal path for priority setting in Chile: a critical analysis to improve health planning and stewardship.

Health systems have committed their path to universal health coverage using health planning to accomplish their goals of efficiency, equity and sustainability. Chile, a high-income country with a public-private mix health system, has made significant progress through several successive health policies implemented in the last 20 years which have been consistent with this approach. However, in the last 5 years, the national congress has produced several disease-specific laws, which have been mainly promoted by the civil society.

Economic evaluation of a multimorbidity patient centered care model implemented in the Chilean public health system.

Multimorbidity and patient-centered care approaches are growing challenges for health systems and patients. The cost of multimorbidity patients and the transition to a new care strategy is still sightly explored. In Chile, more than 70% of the adult population suffer from multimorbidity, opening an opportunity to implement a Multimorbidity patient-centered care model.

The socioeconomic distribution of life expectancy and healthy life expectancy in Chile.

Background: Life expectancy (LE) has usually been used as a metric to monitor population health. In the last few years, metrics such as Quality-Adjusted-Life-Expectancy (QALE) and Health-Adjusted-Life- Expectancy (HALE) have gained popularity in health research, given their capacity to capture health related quality of life, providing a more comprehensive approach to the health concept. We aimed to estimate the distribution of the LE, QALEs and HALEs across Socioeconomic Status in the Chilean population.

Influence of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine Booster among Cancer Patients on Active Treatment Previously Immunized with Inactivated versus mRNA Vaccines: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Cancer patients on chemotherapy have a lower immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Therefore, through a prospective cohort study of patients with solid tumors receiving chemotherapy, we aimed to determine the immunogenicity of an mRNA vaccine booster (BNT162b2) among patients previously immunized with an inactivated (CoronaVac) or homologous (BNT162b2) SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody (NAb) seropositivity at 8-12 weeks post-booster.

[The expected cost of cancer in Chile].

Background: Cancer is a public health priority in Chile.

Aim: To estimate the expected annual cost of cancer in Chile, due to direct costs of health services, working allowances and indirect costs for productivity losses.

Material And Methods: We undertook an ascendent costing methodology to calculate direct costs.

Health in Chile's Recent Constitutional Process: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis of Civil Proposals.

(1) Background: In response to the recent political crisis in Chile, the "Agreement for Social Peace and the New Constitution'' was approved. We aimed to analyze the health-related civil proposals uploaded to the official website for popular participation in the new constitution in Chile. (2) Methods: We carried out a qualitative thematic analysis of 126 health-related valid proposals.

Health State Utility Values of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Related Complications: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: This study aims to synthesize health state utility values (HSUVs) of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its related complications published in the literature, conducting a meta-analysis of the data when possible.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search in MEDLINE and School of Health and Related Research Health Utilities Database repository. Studies focused on T2DM and its complications reporting utility values elicited using direct and indirect methods were selected.

Cost analysis of chronic pain due to musculoskeletal disorders in Chile.

The magnitude of the cost of chronic pain has been a matter of concern in many countries worldwide. The high prevalence, the cost it implies for the health system, productivity, and absenteeism need to be addressed urgently. Studies have begun describing this problem in Chile, but there is still a debt in highlighting its importance and urgency on contributing to chronic pain financial coverage.

Health and economic effects on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the long run: predictions for the Chilean population.

Background: Diabetes is associated to a high financial and disease burden, explaining a large proportion of expenditure of the health system in one year. The purpose of this study was to estimate long-term costs and health outcomes of recently diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes in Chile.

Methods: Cost and consequence study based on mathematical discrete event simulation (DES) model.