History

Early awareness and alert (EAA) systems, also known as horizon scanning and early warning systems, are part of the regular approval processes in many countries worldwide. A survey of INAHTA members in 1998 showed that 30% of agencies had continuing and structured EAA activities.

The feasibility and benefits of an international network of national horizon-scanning systems was discussed for some years in the 1990s. In January 1995, the Danish Hospital Institute organised a meeting entitled “International Collaboration Concerning Monitoring of Emerging Medical Technologies”. Fourteen participants from Denmark, Finland, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom attended and discussed national experiences concerning the possibility for a European collaboration.

The next major developments took place in 1997 at an international workshop “Scanning the Horizon for Emerging Health Technology” in Copenhagen. This was supported by the Danish Institute for Health Technology Assessment, the Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care and the European Commission DG V as part of the “HTA Europe” project. It attracted twenty-seven policy makers and researchers from twelve countries.

The major findings from the Copenhagen workshop concerning collaboration were focused on the obvious value of exchanging information and experience (1, 2). Other areas of interest for future international collaboration were stated as:

  • identifying and prioritising emerging technologies,
  • developing methods for assessment early in the lifecycle of the technology,
  • learning more about the attributes that are important in the diffusion of emerging technologies, and
  • using this knowledge as a basis for determining the focus of future work.

Further collaboration among organisations working with early warning systems was strongly recommended.

At the Copenhagen workshop it was agreed that collaboration should develop as a gradual process with representatives from different countries starting by sharing information, establishing a “mail-box” and gradually advancing the co-operation to higher levels. It was recommended that the initial collaboration should focus mainly on the exchange of information on the safety and efficacy of the new technologies.

Following agreement in Copenhagen a small working group was established with representatives from Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom with associated representatives from Canada and Switzerland. This working group became EuroScan.

In September 2006 EuroScan held a workshop to share the progress, experiences and achievements in the early identification and assessment of new and emerging health technologies within the EuroScan collaboration; and to consider EuroScan’s future roles, goals and collaborations (3).

References

  1. Carlsson P, Jørgensen T (eds) European Workshop: scanning the horizon for emerging health technologies, 1998, DSI and SBU.
  2. Carlsson P, Jørgensen T. Scanning the horizon for emerging health technologies: conclusions from a European workshop, International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 1998, 14(4) 695-706.
  3. Simpson S, Packer C, Carlsson P, Sanders JM, Gutierrez Ibarluzea, Fay AF, Norderhaug I. on behalf of EuroScan, Early identification and assessment of new and emerging health technologies: Actions, progress, and the future direction of an international colloboration – EuroScan, International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 2008, 24(4) 518-525.