On 16th April 2026, the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA) and Guidelines International Network will deliver a joint webinar to discuss the ‘Environmental and Planetary Impact in Health Technology Assessment and Health on Guidelines’.   

The interconnection between human health and the environment has placed environmental and planetary health at the forefront of health policy decision making process. Climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion are increasingly recognized as key determinants of health, influencing disease patterns, healthcare delivery, and population well-being. Consequently, the health sector faces the dual challenge of mitigating its own environmental footprint while adapting decision-making processes to consider planetary health impacts in Health Guidelines and Health Technology Assessment. 
 
This webinar aims to bring together leading voices from global networks to discuss emerging frameworks, practical applications, and collaborative opportunities for integrating environmental and planetary health impact assessment into HTA and health guideline methodologies. 

WEBINAR DETAILS

Date: 16th April 2026

Time: 2:00–3:00pm (CET) / 1.00pm-2.00pm (GMT) / 6.00am-7.00am (EST)

Those interested in attending the webinar should register in advance.

Presenters: 

Dr. Matthias Perleth: ‘The INAHTA White Paper on Advancing Environmental Sustainability Through HTA’

Dr. Thomas Piggott: ‘Considering Planetary Health in Guideline Creation’

Moderators:

Juan Antonio Blasco: MD, MPH, GINAHTA chair and member of INAHTA board of directors

Shelley O’Neill: Deputy Director of HTA at HIQA

Presentations:

Dr. Matthias Perleth – ‘INAHTA White Paper on Advancing Environmental Sustainability Through HTA’ 

The International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA) is a global network of public HTA agencies that support government decision-making regarding the use, coverage, or reimbursement of healthcare technologies. 

In alignment with INAHTA’s mission to share public agency perspectives on strategic and policy matters in HTA, the White Paper on Advancing Environmental Sustainability Through HTA presents insights from 22 senior HTA specialists representing 15 INAHTA member agencies across North America, South America, Asia, and Europe.   

The paper explores how Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) can be integrated within HTA processes and identifies key enablers for making environmental sustainability an embedded component of HTA. 

Reference: INAHTA White Paper on Advancing Environmental Sustainability Through HTA 

Dr. Matthias Perleth, MD, PhD, MPH, studied medicine in Hannover and obtained a Master of Public Health degree from the Hannover Medical School. He worked in the Department of Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Health Systems Research at Hannover Medical School from 1995, and until 2001 as head of the working unit for Health Technology Assessment (HTA). From 2001 to 2007 he was responsible for Health Technology Assessment at the Federal Association of a large German sickness fund. Since June 2007 he is head of the Department of Medical Consultancy at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA). 

Dr. Thomas Piggott – ‘Considering Planetary Health in Guideline Creation’ 

Health guidelines and HTA frameworks have evolved to incorporate considerations beyond health benefits and harms – such as health equity – but remain largely focused on human health outcomes. 

The GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) working group is advancing a framework to integrate planetary health perspectives into health decision-making. Their work identifies six main challenges in considering planetary health within health guidelines and technology assessments. This framework underscores a paradigm shift in health evaluation and guidance development – from a purely human health focus toward a planetary health perspective that acknowledges the interdependence between health systems and the environment. 

Key References: 

  • New guidance paper GRADE (pending publication this spring) 

Dr. Thomas Piggott is the Medical Officer of Health and CEO of Lakeland Public Health. He started with Lakelands Public Health (then Peterborough Public Health) in December 2021. In his position as MOH/CEO, Dr. Piggott brings experience working at various levels of public health in Canada and internationally. Prior to Peterborough, Dr. Piggott worked as MOH and VP lead for Population/Rural & Remote Health in the northern region of Labrador and as a field doctor with Médicins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dr. Piggott completed medical training, residency in Public Health and Preventive Medicine and his PhD in Health Research Methods at McMaster University. He is involved in research, teaching, clinical work and a father of young children. 


Webinar Objectives 

  • To present and discuss current approaches to integrating environmental and planetary considerations into HTA and health guideline development. 
  • To highlight recent international initiatives in the HTA and guideline field.
  • To foster cross-network dialogue on methodologies, challenges, and opportunities for embedding sustainability within HTA and guideline processes. 
  • Discussion and Q&A with presenters and moderators. 

 
Webinar Registration Link: https://connect.g-i-n.net/events/69a711f9e997870008b17790/description?ticket=69a711f9e997870008b1778f 

About GINAHTA 

GINAHTA’s main objective is to explore common methods and to facilitate collaboration and sharing of products between the HTA (represented by INAHTA) and guideline (represented by GIN) communities. 

The worlds of guidelines and health technology assessment (HTA) may be more similar than they appear at first sight.  To explore common methods and to facilitate collaboration and sharing of products between the HTA (represented by INAHTA) and guideline community (represented by GIN) a working group was established in October 2015. 

INAHTA is a network of 51 HTA agencies that support health system decision making that affects over 1 billion people in 32 countries around the globe. With more than 2,100 staff and consultants working in the INAHTA network, there are clear benefits to connecting these agencies together to cooperate and share information about producing and disseminating HTA reports for evidence-based decision making. INAHTA serves this purpose. www.inahta.org 

Aims & Objectives 

The working group acts as a facilitator to join efforts of the HTA and guideline community by: 

  • Identifying common methods 
  • Identifying complementarities between the products of both communities and promoting joint projects 
  • Elaborating a platform to promote collaboration and to share products and best practices 

Co-Chair: Holger Schunemann 
Co-Chair: Mouna Jameleddine 

How to join the GINAHTA Working Group 

GIN or INAHTA members who are interested in joining should write to: membership_manager@g-i-n.net