Essential health technologies (EHT)

Essential health technologies are evidence-based technologies that provide cost-effective solutions to health problems. Health technologies are used at every level of the health care system. From the simplest to the most advanced, they form the backbone of the services medicine can offer in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness and disease.

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The Department of Essential Health Technologies (EHT) has arisen out of what was formerly the Department of Blood Safety and Clinical Technology (BCT). The renaming of the department does not signify that WHO will give less priority to blood safety activities than in the previous four years. Rather, it reflects the recognition that many other health technologies play equally important roles as blood transfusion in prevention and health care and so also deserve to be given priority.

Mission

The Mission of EHT is to:

• develop and maintain basic operational frameworks for safe and reliable health services and technologies;
• help Member States complete the basic operational frameworks through project proposals prepared by Member States;
• develop norms and standards, guidelines, training materials, reference materials and estimation of burden of disease; and
• focus on diseases of the poor.

Related documents

	Contact information
	World Health Organization Department of Essential Health Technologies (HSS/EHT) 20 Avenue Appia 1211, Geneva 27 Switzerland Tel: +41 22 791 4385 Fax: +41 22 791 4836 Email: eht@who.int

EHT Strategy 2004 - 2007

Recent publications: Surgical care at the district hospital