Revised methods guide for economic evaluation studies of health technologies in Portugal
This guide outlines the updated methods for conducting economic evaluations of health technologies in Portugal. It helps companies and decision-makers assess whether new health technologies offer good value for money within the Portuguese National Health System. The guide emphasizes long-term modeling, quality-adjusted life years, and NHS-related costs, with clear rules on discounting and handling uncertainty.
At a glance
Use when
Conducting or reviewing economic evaluations for health technology reimbursement decisions within the Portuguese National Health System
Avoid when
Assessments requiring a societal perspective, very short-term interventions where long-term modeling is unjustified, or non-healthcare settings outside the NHS
Inputs
Health technology characteristics, clinical effectiveness data, cost data from the Portuguese NHS perspective, epidemiological parameters, utility values, expert opinion for model adaptation
Outputs
Cost-effectiveness ratios (e.g., cost per QALY), sensitivity analyses, uncertainty assessments, recommendations for pricing and reimbursement decisions
How it works
The revised methods guide provides updated recommendations for economic evaluation of health technologies in Portugal, including the use of cost-effectiveness analysis based on quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), long-term modeling horizons, a 4% discount rate for costs and outcomes, and a focus on National Health System (NHS) costs. It introduces structured expert elicitation to manage evidence gaps and model adaptation to the Portuguese context. The guidance supports a dynamic appraisal process with provisions for reassessment during contract renegotiations. The revisions were informed by public consultation and alignment with international standards from the UK and Canada.
- HTA domains
- Clinical Effectiveness, Costs & Economic Evaluation, Patient and Social Aspects
- Assumptions
- Long-term extrapolation of outcomes is feasible; QALYs are an appropriate measure of health benefit; the Portuguese NHS perspective captures the most relevant costs; expert elicitation can reliably fill evidence gaps
- Strengths
- Aligned with international best practices (e.g., UK NICE, CADTH),Promotes transparency and consistency in HTA submissions,Incorporates structured methods for handling uncertainty and model adaptation,Supports dynamic reassessment in response to new evidence or pricing negotiations
- Limitations
- Focus on NHS costs may overlook broader societal impacts,Use of a single 4% discount rate may not suit all types of interventions,Dependence on expert elicitation introduces potential subjectivity
- Also known as
- Portuguese Economic Evaluation Methods Guide, Infarmed Economic Evaluation Guide 2026, Methods Guide for HTA Economic Evaluations in Portugal
Questions this answers
- › What type of economic evaluation is recommended for health technology assessments in Portugal?
- › How should costs and health outcomes be discounted in economic models?
- › What perspective should be used when estimating costs in submissions?
- › How should uncertainty be addressed in cost-effectiveness models?
- › How should international models be adapted to the Portuguese context?
- › Under what conditions might a technology be reappraised after initial funding?
References & sources
Similar by meaning
- Spanish recommendations on economic evaluation of health technologies (López-Bastida guideline)
- Guidelines for the Economic Evaluation of Health Technologies in Ireland (HIQA)
- Dutch Guideline for Economic Evaluations in Healthcare
- Guideline for the economic evaluation of medicines (CAPF / Spanish NHS Advisory Committee for Pharmaceutical Financing)
- Guidelines for the Economic Evaluation of Health Technologies: Canada — 4th Edition
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