23
Jan

Health Technology Assessment (HTA), a multidisciplinary process that uses explicit methods to determine the value of health technology, is widely recognized as an important tool to inform health policy decisions under Universal Health Coverage (UHC) systems. In HTA, the dimensions of value include clinical effectiveness, safety, costs and economic implications, ethical, social, cultural and legal issues, and organizational aspects.   However, HTA in most countries, especially LMICs appeared to focus primarily on safety and clinical effectiveness, followed by economic and budgetary. Apart from evidence on these dimensions, the consideration of a value assessment framework (including equity concerns) that may lead to rigorous and transparent evidence toward a fair health system has been raised.  This is to ensure that HTA would promote instead of worsen health equity.

With 8 years of experience and a strong intention to strengthen the capacity on HTA to promote well-governed and scientific processes for evidence-informed policy in LMICs, Mahidol University Health Technology Assessment (MUHTA) graduate programs, involving the Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital, Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital, Faculty of Public Health, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, and Institute for Population and Social Research, contribute to a wide range of HTA capacity building in LMICs including education, training, and generating evidence to support national decision makers. Importantly, all research conducted by graduates was used to guide healthcare decisions in their countries. Hence, this side meeting will present examples of HTA research conducted by MUHTA students, that were used to support policy decision-making in the following 5 countries: Philippines, India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Thailand. This side meeting will discuss how equity issues have been considered in the assessment and decision-making, possible mechanisms to formally integrate equity consideration into UHC, challenges, and the way forward.