Health technology assessment in England: assessment and appraisal.

The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme in England is a government-funded but independent research program. It is "needs-led", identifying technologies of most importance to the National Health Service and commissioning research to provide answers on these technologies useful to policymakers, clinicians and patients. It is "science-added", refining problems to researchable questions and working with researchers to ensure that the question is addressed, and disseminating the findings to key audiences. There is a clear distinction in England between assessment (a scientific process and the role of the HTA Programme) and appraisal (the role of policymakers, like the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence). There are many features common to HTA in Australia and England, but also differences, as HTA in each country has to adapt to its own environment.