en Health Management and Information Sciences Health Management and Information Sciences Original Research Original Research <p> <strong> Background: </strong>Various decisions have been made on technology application at all levels of the health system in different countries around the world. Health technology assessment is considered as one of the best scientific tools at the service of policy- makers. This study attempts to investigate the current challenges of Iran’s health technology assessment and provide appropriate strategies to establish and institutionalize this program. </p><p> <strong> Methods </strong>: This study was carried out in two independent phases. In the first, electronic databases such as Medline (via Pub Med) and Scientific Information Database (SID) were searched to provide a list of challenges of Iran’s health technology assessment. The views and opinions of the experts and practitioners on HTA challenges were studied through a questionnaire in the second phase which was then analyzed by SPSS Software version 16. This has been an observational and analytical study with a thematic analysis. </p><p> <strong> Results </strong>: In the first phase, seven papers were retrieved from which, twenty- two HTA challenges in Iran were extracted by the researchers and they were used as the base for designing a structured questionnaire of the second phase. The views of the experts on the challenges of health technology assessment were categorized as follows: organizational culture, stewardship, stakeholders, health system management, infrastructures and external pressures which were mentioned in more than 60% of the cases and were also common in the views. </p><p> <strong> Conclusion </strong>: The identification and prioritization of HTA challenges which were approved by those experts involved in the strategic planning of the Department of Health Technology Assessment will be a step forward in the promotion of an evidence- based policy- making and in the production of comprehensive scientific evidence. </p> Evidence Based Policy Making, HTA, Challenges, Iran. 1065 1071 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-767&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Alireza Olyaeemanesh arolyaee@yahoo.com 200319475328460014615 200319475328460014615 No National Institute for Health Research -General Director of Health Technology Assessment, Standardization and Tariff Department, Deputy of curative affairs, MOHME, Tehran, Iran. Shila Doaee shiladoaee@live.com 200319475328460014616 200319475328460014616 Yes Medical science school, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University,Tehran, Iran Mohammadreza Mobinizadeh mobinreza@yahoo.com 200319475328460014617 200319475328460014617 No School of Management and Economics, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Mina Nedjati merciful.2008@yahoo.com 200319475328460014618 200319475328460014618 No Deputy of curative affairs, MOHME, Tehran, Iran. Parisa Aboee aboeep@yahoo.com 200319475328460014619 200319475328460014619 No Department of Payment and Financing System, National Institute for Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Seyed Hassan Emami-Razavi emami_r@health.gov.ir 200319475328460014620 200319475328460014620 No Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.