Horizon Scanning

The National Horizon Scanning Unit (NHSU) was established in November 2003 as part of the Australia and New Zealand Horizon Scanning Network (ANZHSN). The ANZHSN operates under the auspices of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, the Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council (AHMAC) and the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC). The role of the NHSU is to provide an early alert system to Australian and New Zealand policy makers of the consequences (positive or negative) of new and emerging health technologies.

The NHSU provides horizon scanning evaluations on new devices, diagnostics or programs to the Health Policy Advisory Committee on Technology (HealthPACT). HealthPACT reports to and advises AHMAC and the MSAC, which disseminate information to health providers, thus sharing information amongst jurisdictions and limiting duplication of effort. These assessments are located on the Publications site.

Technologies identified by the horizon scanning process are likely to emerge within three years and must satisfy one or more of the following criteria: has obvious safety concerns; has not been assessed and is rapidly diffusing throughout the health system, is applicable to a large proportion of the population; or is applicable to a small proportion of the population but has obvious and far-reaching benefits.

The NHSU are also members of the international horizon scanning network, EuroScan, which exchanges and disseminates information, as well as evaluations of new health technologies, internationally.