Health technology assessment (HTA) was introduced into China more than 20 years ago and has developed rapidly recently. While only recently has the concept of hospital-based health technology assessment (HB-HTA) attracted attention in China. The purpose of this study is to investigate the views of government officials, decision makers and relevant stakeholders in the management and application of medical technologies in hospitals, within the environment of Health System Reform in China. We analysed the current situation and identified obstacles and prospects of HB-HTA in Chinese tertiary hospitals.

We conducted semi-structured interviews in 8 provinces in Eastern, Central and Western China; in 2 to 4 tertiary public hospitals in each province. We interviewed doctors, nurses, and Chiefs in hospitals, and key informants in the National Center for Medical Service Administration.

A total of 98 people participated in the panel discussions and interviews. We found that:

1. 1. China's tertiary public hospitals have embraced HB-HTA, and various hospitals have performed different forms of HB-HTA (including ambassador model, Mini-HTA model, and internal committee model). However, the assessment process, standards, and methods are yet to be standardized.

2. 2. The promotion of HB-HTA in China's tertiary public hospitals has remarkable external incentives and internal advantages.

3. 3. The lack of HB-HTA professionals, improvements in cognition level, and evidence-based decision-making models and management culture hinders the development of HB-HTA in China.

HB-HTA is in high demand in China, especially in tertiary hospitals. It will continue to develop rapidly over the next decade along with the development of China's HTA. HB-HTA will complement the national HTA to jointly extend the Chinese HTA system.