Collaborative networking is adopted to implement health technology assessment (HTA) in academic and research institutions and exchange knowledge with hospitals and health services. Since 2016, the District Network for Health Technology Assessment (ReDAPTS) has been dedicated to generating and promoting evidence that supports decision-making, promoting continuous qualification, supporting and guiding managers in priorities and demands, analysing the economic, ethical and social implications of problems and situations, and contributing to healthcare quality at the Unified Health System. The objective of this study is to present the construction process of ReDAPTS from 2016 to 2019.

This experience report about ReDAPTS considered three main actions: (i) situational diagnosis in 2016 and 2017, (ii) agreements of internal regulation and governance and (iii) HTA training strategies for professionals. The scientific events and executive group meetings were described to identify the strategies for the implementation of a collaborative network in the Federal District (FD), Brazil.

In total, fifteen institutions were identified with a potential to develop the HTA field at the district level. Between 2016 and 2019, three scientific events, eighteen technical meetings for network governance and two scientific meetings were carried out, organized by ReDAPTS and with 269 participants, highlighting assistance and university hospitals, FD Department of Health and academic and research institutions. Four HTA courses were offered and 319 professionals from the FD were trained.

Collaborative networking provided strengthening capacity for study production and debates on institutional processes for public health policies at the FD. Networking encouraged collaboration between institutions and promoted sharing HTA experiences. The network faces challenges to operate with full capacity. Political and institutional commitment, physical infrastructure and trained personnel sustainability are key to maintaining the HTA process at the FD. Institutions can develop HTA-teams to promote continuous qualification, study production and the rational use of technologies.