Horizon Scanning In Health Care: A German Perspective

Background Decision makers in health care act in an area in which expectations increase to make beneficial new technologies available as soon as possible, to protect patients from unsafe or ineffective technologies, and to expedite or decelerate technology diffusion. Horizon Scanning (HS) is a process to identify early new and emerging technologies and to inform about their potential consequences concerning the health care system.Objectives Methods of HS, worldwide existing activities and the status quo in Germany are described.Methods In April 2015, a systematic electronic search was conducted which was supplemented by hand searching. Additionally, a qualitative acquisition of German expert knowledge in health care was realized.Results 27 formal HS systems (HSS) worldwide were identified of which 18 are current members of the "International Information Network on New and Emerging Health Technologies". Essentially, the same process steps are applied but there may be differences in methods due to different structures and interests of the health care systems. There is no official HSS in Germany. The survey of experts revealed a lack of knowledge and a varying understanding of HS, but basically there seems to be a need for this.Conclusions The systematic process of HS can be adapted to current circumstances and objectives of a specific health care system and has international acceptance. In Germany, it could enable decision makers and other stakeholders to have information early and thus support them in their decisions.