AI, HTA, and the future of access: Inside the 12th annual Kraków HTA symposium

Two days of intensive discussions

Across two days, participants explored the challenges and opportunities shaping healthcare systems today — from reimbursement policy and health technology assessment to artificial intelligence, prevention, rare diseases, mental health, and access to innovation.

Key themes and sessions

The Symposium opened with a highly anticipated debate on the upcoming amendments to the Polish Reimbursement Act. The discussion highlighted both the opportunities and complexities associated with implementing new regulations and underscored the importance of maintaining a balance between innovation, sustainability, and patient access.

Subsequent sessions addressed innovative reimbursement models, HTA for medical devices, and the transformative role of AI in evidence generation and decision-making. Experts shared practical experiences and discussed how new technologies are reshaping the way evidence is generated, assessed, and used in healthcare policy.

Particular attention was devoted to areas where healthcare systems face difficult choices. Conversations on oncology, rare diseases, and breakthrough therapies emphasized the need to manage uncertainty while ensuring timely access to innovative treatments. Discussions on adult vaccination highlighted the growing importance of prevention and the role of evidence in shaping public health policies.

The final sessions focused on mental health and neurology, reminding us that healthcare outcomes depend not only on access to treatment but also on adherence, coordinated care, and long-term patient support.

The value of diverse perspectives

What made this year’s Symposium particularly valuable was the diversity of perspectives represented throughout the programme. Bringing together government institutions, HTA agencies, academia, healthcare providers, patient organizations, professional associations, and industry created a unique environment for meaningful dialogue and exchange of ideas.

Thank you to our speakers, partners, and sponsors

A sincere thank you to all speakers, moderators, participants, sponsors, and partners for contributing their expertise and making this year’s Symposium a success.

We would like to extend our special gratitude to our sponsors: AbbVie, Angelini Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, GSK, Novartis, Roche, Sanofi, Takeda, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Their support and commitment to advancing evidence-based healthcare discussions helped make this year’s Symposium possible.