Conclusion - Health technology assessment and health care in the European Union

The papers on the 16 European countries presented in this issue show their great diversity of health systems. Health technology assessment (HTA) has b een institutionalized in a number of members of the European Union and has a growing impact on health policy. A remaining challenge is to see HTA visi ble and useful at the European level, which requires more active coordinati on of national and regional activities. A network of HTA programs and resea rchers has been established. The HTA-Europe Steering Committee has suggeste d a number of actions by the European Commission to promote further coordin ation. The most important conclusion of the HTA-Europe report is that a per manent coordinating structure is needed at the European level.