Hosted by the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU and the Cypriot Ministry of Health, the Heads of HTA Agencies Group (HAG) convened in Paphos, Cyprus, on 29 May 2026. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the European Commission and the Cyprus Health Insurance Organisation.
The meeting coincides with a landmark moment for European health technology assessment (EU HTA): the recent completion of the first joint clinical assessment (JCA) report and its approval by the Member State Coordination Group on HTA (HTACG) under the EU HTA Regulation (HTAR).
Highlighting this important milestone, Trygve Ottersen, Chair of the HAG, stated,
“We are now entering a new phase where joint clinical assessments will increasingly be put to use across Europe. National HTA agencies are both the producers of the joint assessments and key facilitators of their uptake within national systems. At the same time, the European HTA system will continue to evolve, and learning from experience will be essential for everyone involved”.
During the meeting, the HAG focused on advancing work across its top priorities: governance and financing of EU HTA, implementation and use of the first JCAs, and strengthening the communication on the role and value of HTA within the EU. In an interactive workshop, participants reflected on a number of potential key actions to support progress in each priority area. Among other initiatives, the heads agreed on the importance of exploring sustainable financing models for EU HTA.
Participants also held an in-depth discussion on transparency of information and data related to JCAs under the HTA Regulation. In this context, the group unanimously welcomed and supported the ‘Guiding Principles on Data Transparency’ published by the HTACG.
A second workshop focused on the HAG’s HTAR Evaluation Working Group, which is currently collaborating with the European Commission on preparations for the upcoming evaluation of the EU HTA Regulation. This work includes the co-development of a survey for Member States to ensure that their perspectives and experiences are appropriately reflected in the evaluation process.
Against the backdrop of significant EU legislative activity in the field of public health, participants also exchanged views on broader legislative and strategic developments that may have implications for HTA, such as the Critical Medicines Act and the Biotech Act. These discussions aimed to strengthen preparedness and support the anticipation of future impacts on the HTA landscape.
The HAG will hold its next face-to-face meeting in Dublin, Ireland, on 9 October 2026, as part of Medicines Week, which will also include a joint session bringing together the HAG, the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA), and the National Competent Authorities on Pricing and Reimbursement and Public Healthcare Payers (NCAPR).
