Background of establishment：

In February 2007, Minister of Department of Health (DOH) made the decision to establish a system of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and authorized Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) to plan it . The aims of HTA are to provide evidences on value of new healthcare technologies regarding comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness for decision makers in Bureau of National Health Insurance (BNHI). The task force established in June and started many communications with officers in DOH, BNHI, academia, and people in pharmaceutical industries. The Deputy Minister of DOH announced the operation of the HTA under CDE in the annual conference of Formosan Medical Association on November 09, 2007. The Board of Directors of CDE approved the new HTA division on December 20, 2007.

Missions and Functions：

The mission of the HTA division is to create a transparent and scientific-based HTA system in Taiwan. Through the evaluation of new drugs applying for BNH Ireimbursement , the conduct of special projects, policy research in setting up priority for drug utilization and rational usage of drugs, the HTA division can provide fair, reliable and scientific evidences to the decision makers. Under the limitation of the available resources , the new health technologies can be used in efficient and proper ways to maximize the welfare of public health for all people in Taiwan.

The major functions of HTA Division are：

1. To establish the standard operation procedures for evaluating the health technologies.
2. To perform HTA for the cases committed by the authority in charge based on the evidence-based approach.
3. To establish international collaboration on HTA related issues.
4. Other related issues.