Once a drug is approved by the regulators like EMA in Europe and FDA in the US, the drug is not automatically approved in various countries. Health Technology Assessment (HTA) bodies in different countries play a crucial role in evaluating these drugs to determine their value and effectiveness within national healthcare systems. Patients and patient associations have an important role in this process, providing essential insights and evidence that can influence decisions. Neil Bertelsen gives an excellent presentation about this process. This is the first of three presentations he will give on HTA.