Evaluation of health technologies in France: from theory to practice

Abstract: Long ago, Alan Maynard and Ann Ludbrook regarded France as ‘le mauvais élève’ for health care expenditure management. The purpose of the presentation is to assess whether this still holds today. To address the question, the seminar will draw on the recent experience of the French National Health Board (HAS –Haute Autorité de Santé-), which was given legal remits in 2008 and 2012 to carry out economic assessments of health care technologies and interventions. The obstacles encountered in the process of setting up the new efficiency advices on pricing for new technologies will be reviewed, as well the prospects for further developments in the use of economic analysis for decision-making in health care in France.