Spanish recommendations on economic evaluation of health technologies (López-Bastida guideline)
This guideline provides a set of 17 consensus-based recommendations for conducting economic evaluations of health technologies in Spain. It is used by the Spanish RedETS network to ensure consistent and high-quality assessments of costs and benefits.
At a glance
Use when
Conducting economic evaluations within the Spanish HTA context or when aligning with RedETS network standards
Avoid when
Assessing technologies outside the Spanish system without local adaptation; when broader social or patient-reported outcomes are primary focus
Inputs
Health technology intervention, comparator, cost data, health outcomes, time horizon, discount rates, population characteristics
Outputs
Cost-effectiveness ratios, incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs), sensitivity analyses, methodological recommendations for economic evaluation
How it works
A consensus-driven reference methods guide developed by López-Bastida et al. and published in Eur J Health Econ (2010), adopted by the RedETS network. It includes 17 structured recommendations for designing, conducting, and reporting economic evaluations in health technology assessment, with a focus on methodological rigor and applicability within the Spanish healthcare context.
- HTA domains
- Costs & Economic Evaluation
- Assumptions
- The healthcare system perspective is primary; long-term effects can be modeled; costs and outcomes are appropriately discounted; comparators are relevant and current
- Strengths
- Provides standardized, nationally endorsed methodology; enhances comparability across assessments; integrates methodological rigor with practical applicability in the Spanish context
- Limitations
- Primarily tailored to the Spanish healthcare system; may require adaptation for international use; limited guidance on non-health economic dimensions
- Also known as
- López-Bastida guideline
Questions this answers
- › How should economic evaluations of health technologies be structured in Spain?
- › What methodological standards are recommended for cost-effectiveness analyses?
- › Which perspective should be used in economic evaluations?
- › How should uncertainty be addressed in economic models?
- › What reporting standards ensure transparency and comparability?
- › How should time horizons and discounting be handled in analyses?
References & sources
Similar by meaning
- Guideline for the economic evaluation of medicines (CAPF / Spanish NHS Advisory Committee for Pharmaceutical Financing)
- Revised methods guide for economic evaluation studies of health technologies in Portugal
- Dutch Guideline for Economic Evaluations in Healthcare
- Guidelines for the Economic Evaluation of Health Technologies in Ireland (HIQA)
- Guidelines for the Economic Evaluation of Health Technologies: Canada — 4th Edition
Beta record. Based on the original catalogue summary; primary-source enrichment pending.