Digital medication health service (DMHS) platforms are increasingly used by pharmaceutical companies to provide direct medication health services through digital methods like apps, hotlines, and web services, etcetera. However, the implications of such platforms in supporting health technology assessment (HTA) are rarely discussed in the literature. This presentation sets out the opportunities for using the DMHS platforms of pharmaceutical companies as real-world data sources for HTA.

A mixed-method qualitative study combining literature review and case study was conducted. Relevant literature was identified by searching the Web of Science and PubMed databases. A case study on current DMHS platforms in China was carried out using an inductive approach to identify the key elements emerging from these platforms.

DMHS platforms of pharmaceutical companies can identify multiple attributes of medication information needs regarding medical products, including effectiveness, safety, and economic factors. The platforms can respond to different stakeholders, including patients and their carers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, etcetera. As one kind of interactive process, DMHS platforms can provide further services, including patient education, consultation, and evaluation, follow-up visits, chronic disease management, promotion of the rational use of drugs, therapeutic drug monitoring, and adverse drug reaction surveillance and reporting.

The DMHS platforms of pharmaceutical companies provide a unique and valuable real-world data source for HTA. These types of self-reported outcomes have not gained enough attention in HTA. Collective efforts by HTA agencies and pharmaceutical companies are needed to set strategies for integrating DMHS platforms into HTA.