Austria: History of health technology assessment during the past 20 years

Objectives: The aim of this article is to describe and analyze the stages toward recognition and implementation of health technology assessment (HTA). Methods: System analysis of structures and institutions and their use of HTA. Results: Austria is a latecomer in implementing evaluations/HTA as decision support. It can to a certain degree absorb the increasing international knowledge. Austria had a long time to observe the successes and failures...