The main task

The main task of NIHO is to bring scientific approach and transparency to the process of reimbursement of health technologies in Slovakia. NIHO assesses technologies whose marketing authorization holders apply for reimbursement. For this purpose, NIHO studies large amounts of available information on given technology and processes it into an understandable form for decision-makers and health authorities. NIHOis an advisory body of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic and its appraisal committees responsible for advising reimbursement decision. NIHO calculates the maximum price for which the Slovak Republic is able to pay reimburse the given technology as the cost-effectiveness threshold in Slovakia is set in law. NIHO does not issue decisions, this competence remains in the hands of the Ministry of Health.

Future tasks

Another task of NIHO is to answer various questions in the field of health care and thus contribute to a better application of the most up-to-date knowledge. Examples of topics we have worked on include: how to set up a sustainable system of exceptional reimbursement of medicines; what is the availability of the most beneficial oncology medicines in Slovakia; how to set up a system of reimbursement groups; how to optimize medicine legislation or a number of issues resulting from non-standard situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The training of experts in the use of evidence-based medicine is another important mission of NIHO.

Cooperation with foreign countries

Mnohé z otázok, na ktoré sa v zdravotníctve hľadá odpoveď, už boli zodpovedané a mnohé technológie boli hodnotené niektorou inou HTA inštitúciou. Spolupráca v tomto kontexte znamená, že je možné použiť hodnotenie zo zahraničia a upraviť ho do slovenského kontextu. Podobne aj hodnotenia vypracované NIHO môžu kedykoľvek použiť v zahraničí. To je hlavný dôvod, prečo sú naše hodnotenia vypracované aj v anglickom jazyku. Zároveň je možné na niektorých hodnoteniach pracovať v priamej koordinácii so zahraničnou HTA inštitúciou a rozdeliť si jednotlivé časti práce medzi sebou. Na základe nedávneho Nariadenia Európskeho parlamentu a Rady (EÚ) 2021/2282 z 15. decembra 2021 o hodnotení zdravotníckych technológií a zmene smernice 2011/24/EÚ, bude počnúc rokom 2025 spolupráca na klinických aspektoch HTA na európskej úrovni postupne zjednocovaná.