“HTA is the systematic evaluation of properties, effects, and/or impacts of health technology. Its main purpose is to inform technology-related policy-making in health care, and thus improve the uptake of cost-effective new technologies and prevent the uptake of technologies that are of doubtful value for the health system.”
2013年衛生福利部參考國際上各國醫療科技評估相關組織之功能及定位,並考量實際運作之可行性,規劃分階段逐步整合衛生政策、醫療服務、資源合理配置等科技評估項目,成立「國家醫療科技評估中心 -National Institute for Health Technology Assessment, Taiwan (NIHTA)」籌備辦公室。