What has been the impact Tool Kit Project?

The project's main activity has been dissemination, training and policy dialogue. It is expected that developmental impact will be more apparent in the future because there was and continues to be sustained institutional support for those health professionals who completed their fellowships in Ottawa with the WHO Collaborating Centre for Health Technology.

The Tool Kit is being incorporated into new curricula and course materials. The International Society for Technology Assessment in Health Care (ISTAHC) has now recognized the need for more formal training programs in HTA and is seeking funding from CIDA and other donor agencies in support of these activities. Since 1999, they are developing 2 streams of study: a Distance Education 'diploma' and single courses, and a Distance Master's program to respond to this need.

Particular tools such as the decision aids developed by the Schools of Nursing at the University of Ottawa and Pontifica Universidad de Catholica was greater than expected impact due to the separate injection of funding from CIDA (500,000CAD) and the uptake and integration into nursing education and health and development activities in Chile. Interest has now been expressed by Rockefeller to further develop and disseminate elements of this approach in regions other than Latin America.

The Tool Kit remains a technical and policy relevant resource which will be increasingly utilized as its accessibility is enhanced by its launch on the world wide web. The WHO Collaborating Center for Knowledge Translation and Health Technology Assessment in Health Equity will continue to refine the elements of the Toolkit, integrate suggestions, methods and tools from countries, especially developing countries and offer advice, technical support and mentoring to those committed to this approach.

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