The article considers horizon scanning as a strategic planning tool and a component of an early warning system that provides systematic identification of new, developing and available healthcare technologies that can affect public health and the healthcare system. The international experience of the SG organization is summarized and the key stages of the process are described — technology identification, filtering/prioritization, impact assessment, dissemination of scan results and monitoring, as well as the main methods (analysis of scientific publications, clinical trial registers, patent databases and expert surveys). The role of SG as a stage of health technology assessment is shown separately.