Saudi Arabia Concludes Landmark Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Workshop with Global Experts
DATE: February 8-12, 2025
LOCATION: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia successfully hosted the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Workshop at Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace from February 8 to 12, 2025, bringing together renowned global experts, policymakers, and researchers to advance evidence-based healthcare decision-making. The event, hosted by King Saud University in collaboration with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), NICE International, and EuroQol, provided a crucial platform for discussing health economics, patient-centered care, and innovative policy strategies.

The workshop featured distinguished speakers from Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Egypt, Spain, and Qatar, representing organizations such as:

• NICE International (UK)
• EuroQol (Netherlands)
• Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)
• King Saud University (Saudi Arabia)
• Path Economics, LLC (USA)
• CCHO (UAE & Canada)
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
• ISPOR Qatar Chapter

Key Topics and Highlights:
Over five days, the workshop facilitated expert-led discussions, case studies, and real-world applications on critical areas, including:

Health Economics and Evidence-Based Decision-Making – Experts explored systematic reviews, meta-analysis techniques, and Cochrane risk assessments to strengthen healthcare evaluations.
Artificial Intelligence and Real-World Data (RWD) – Sessions examined AI-driven data analysis and big data applications in healthcare decision-making.
Patient-Centered Outcomes and the Saudi EQ-5D Value Set – Discussions focused on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) and their integration into healthcare policies, with a particular emphasis on the new EQ-5D Value Set for Saudi Arabia.
Economic Evaluations in Healthcare – Participants analyzed Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs), Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), and ISPOR guidelines for economic modeling.
Budget Impact Model (BIM) Adaptation – A highlight of the event was the session led by Dr. Nimer Alkhatib, PhD, a globally recognized health economist and founder of Path Economics, LLC (USA). Dr. Alkhatib provided a step-by-step framework for adapting budget impact models in different disease areas, including oncology and diabetes, guiding policymakers on optimizing healthcare cost assessments.
Managed Entry Agreements (MEA) and Outcome-Based Pricing – Discussions, led by Dr. Steve Williamson, Dr. Pilar Pinilla-Dominguez, and Dr. Dalia Dawoud, examined innovative pricing strategies for orphan medications and rare disease treatments.

Keynote Speakers and Moderators:
The event featured a prestigious lineup of experts, including:

Keynote Speakers:
• Dr. Nimer Alkhatib, PhD (Founder, Path Economics, LLC, USA)
• Dr. Steve Williamson, PhD (Associate Director, NICE International, UK)
• Dr. Pilar Pinilla-Dominguez, PhD (Associate Director, NICE International, Spain)
• Dr. Dalia Dawoud, PhD (Associate Director, NICE, Egypt)
• Dr. Richard Chapman, PhD (Chief Scientific Officer, Center of Innovation & Value Research, USA)
• Dr. Fatima AlSayah, PhD (Principal & PROMs Lead, CCHO, Canada)
• Dr. Elly Stolk, PhD (Scientific Director, EuroQol, Netherlands)
• Dr. Randa Attieh, PhD (Scientific Counselor, INESS, Canada)
• Dr. Howard Friedman, PhD (Chief Data Scientist, Columbia University, USA)

Moderators:
• Dr. Abdulaali Almutairi, PhD (Senior Chief Drug Safety Expert, SFDA, Saudi Arabia)
• Dr. Bander Balkhi, PhD (Professor, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia)
• Dr. Anas Hamad, PhD (Director of Pharmacy, National Center for Cancer Care, Qatar)
• Dr. Omar Al Mohammed, PhD (Professor, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia)
• Dr. Yazed Alruthia, PhD (Professor, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia)
• Dr. Christiane Maskineh, PhD (CEO, CCHO, UAE)

You could feel the energy in every corner!

The attendees at the #HTA workshop actively participated and engaged in dynamic discussions during Dr. Richard Chapman’s session! pic.twitter.com/iM2423jwTR

— PEOR Society (@PEORSociety) February 10, 2025

Advancing Saudi Arabia’s Role in Health Technology Assessment:
With the support of King Saud University, SFDA, and international partners, this workshop solidified Saudi Arabia’s leadership in HTA and evidence-based healthcare policy. The discussions and collaborations made during the event will contribute to:

Optimizing healthcare expenditures through cost-effectiveness models.
Enhancing patient access to life-saving medications and technologies.
Driving AI-driven innovations in health technology assessment.
Shaping international best practices in health economics and policy.

The HTA Workshop marked a significant step in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based policymaking to improve healthcare outcomes and system efficiency. The event successfully fostered international collaboration, setting the stage for future policy innovations and strategic healthcare investments.

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Useful Resources:
info@patheconomics.com

Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research Saudi Society (PEOR)

 ISPOR Saudi Arabia

ISPOR Saudi Arabia

DATE: November 17, 2024 – November 20, 2024

WEBSITE: ISROP EUROE 2024

LOCATION: Barcelona, Spain