{"id":4794,"date":"2026-04-27T16:27:49","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T14:27:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.access2meds.eu\/?p=4794"},"modified":"2026-04-27T16:41:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T14:41:01","slug":"ascertain-newsletter-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.access2meds.eu\/hr\/ascertain-newsletter-6\/","title":{"rendered":"ASCERTAIN NEWSLETTER 6"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Dear readers,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we enter the final phase of the ASCERTAIN project, this edition highlights key milestones achieved in recent months. We share insights from our consortium meeting in Brussels, present progress on the ASCERTAIN platform and open-access models, and introduce our newly published position papers translating evidence into policy recommendations. In addition, we highlight our work on strengthening security and making specialised health economics knowledge more accessible to patients and the wider public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Registration is now open for our Final Conference, which will take place on 21 October 2026 in Brussels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoy reading this newsletter!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your ASCERTAIN team<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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GLOBAL MODELS, LOCAL IMPACT: MAKING HTA MORE TRANSPARENT AND ADAPTABLE<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Mathyn Vervaart<\/strong> is a health economist and researcher at Oslo University Hospital and the University of Oslo. He holds a PhD focused on methods for handling uncertainty and immature survival data in economic evaluations. His current work centers on model-based cost-effectiveness analyses and the economic evaluation of new health technologies. Previously, he worked as a Senior Adviser at the Norwegian Medical Products Agency (NOMA), where he conducted technology assessments for new pharmaceuticals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a global model, and how does country adaptation work?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A global model is essentially a standardized “master blueprint” used to avoid rebuilding economic models from scratch for every country. Adaptation involves plugging in country-specific data\u2014such as local unit costs, discount rates, or mortality tables\u2014into a fixed structural framework. This ensures that while the underlying logic remains consistent, the results are tailored to local healthcare systems.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What is new in our model?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our models are developed with a principle of being as open as possible and as closed as necessary. In contrast to many conventional economic models, which are often treated as \u201cblack boxes\u201d and are not routinely made available for scrutiny or reuse across Health Technology Assessments (HTAs), our models are built using open-source code in R to support transparency, reproducibility, and adaptability. These are paired with a user-friendly web application that enables both technical and non-technical stakeholders to engage with the models and conduct their own analyses. Where sensitive data or privacy considerations apply, parts of the workflow are maintained within a protected environment. This approach seeks to balance openness with appropriate safeguards, ensuring both broad accessibility and responsible data governance.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What are the main advantages for stakeholders?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For payers and HTA agencies, the main advantages are transparency and comparability\u2014they can trust the results and easily compare outcomes across different jurisdictions. For developers, it increases efficiency, as they can reuse and adapt a validated model rather than reinventing the wheel for every HTA.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What kind of challenges did you face during development?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The main challenge was balancing standardization with flexibility. We had to design core models capable of handling various national rules\u2014such as switching between healthcare and societal perspectives\u2014as well as different technical inputs like survival models and mortality rates. The goal was to offer these options without making the tool overly complex for the user.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

How do we ensure quality?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Quality is managed through a dedicated Quality Assurance Framework (QAF). This includes standardized coding practices, version control, and error testing. By moving away from individual spreadsheets and toward a structured codebase, we reduce the risk of calculation errors that often occur in traditional health economic models.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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CONSORTIUM MEETING IN BRUSSELS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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In April, the ASCERTAIN consortium gathered in Brussels for a two-day meeting marking the transition into the final phase of the project. Bringing together partners from across Europe, the meeting provided an important opportunity to reconnect, align on key priorities, and prepare for the months ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first day focused on internal collaboration, with partners working intensively on cross-model interactions, validation of the project\u2019s three use cases, and integration of environmental impact considerations. Discussions also addressed preparations for the upcoming final conference, ensuring a strong and impactful conclusion to the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the second day, ASCERTAIN welcomed a diverse group of external stakeholders, including representatives from policy, academia, and healthcare. Through interactive workshops and scenario-based exercises, participants explored how ASCERTAIN\u2019s models and Policy Support Tool can support real-world decision-making. By testing different user perspectives, stakeholders engaged directly with the platform and provided valuable feedback on its usability, relevance, and policy application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We now look forward to coming together again in October in Brussels for the ASCERTAIN Final Conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FINAL CONFERENCE IN BRUSSELS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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As the ASCERTAIN project comes to an end, we are pleased to announce that our Final Conference will take place on 21 October 2026 in Brussels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ASCERTAIN brings together patient representatives, physicians, payers, regulators, and manufacturers to improve the affordability and accessibility of innovative health technologies in Europe. Guided by a comprehensive framework integrating pricing, health technology assessment, and reimbursement, the project has developed open-access, policy-supporting tools to enhance transparency, sustainability, and fairness in health innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This final event will be an opportunity to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n