Introduction of early health technology assessment for innovators, clinicians, and funders.

Health technology faces rising costs, system complexities, and gaps between development and coverage policies, limiting translation into practice. Traditional health technology assessment (HTA) evaluates technologies at late stages, providing little support if a technology fails to secure reimbursement. Early HTA addresses this by assessing technologies during research and development stages, helping innovators prioritise disease areas, define target product profiles, and establish value propositions. Early HTA could reduce development risks and uncertainties and inform development choices that could improve cost-effectiveness and enhance long-term viability, adaptability, and adoptability in the healthcare system.