HITAP emphasise the lead role of Thailand in public health system as the host of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) conference at the regional level gathering around 300 academics from 20 countries to present their research work, build a network for health policy recommendations development, and make an efficient public health policy.
The Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program, together with the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand, Health Systems Research Institute, WHO, China National Health Development Research Center, and other organisations co-hosted the 10th HTAsiaLink Annual Conference 2022 from 30th November – 2nd December 2022 in Pattaya, Chonburi. The theme for the conference is ‘The Role of HTA in the New Normal: Driving the Post-COVID health system through evidence-informed decisions.’ This regional conference gathered around 300 academics from 20 countries to present their research work and have discussions with international experts about interesting topics regarding current health issues, such as reimagining the Post COVID-19 health system and HTA, accelerating the impact of Real-World Evidence in global HTA community, and how disruptive technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) or telehealth may or may not be the answer for the post-COVID world.
Professor Vicharn Panich, M.D., Chairman, Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program Foundation Board was invited to deliver the opening remarks and officiate the 10th HTAsiaLink Conference.
“One lesson that COVID-19 has taught us is that our health system must be ready to handle expected and unexpected challenges, and we must creatively combine health technologies to create new ways of public health service during the pandemic and keep using them. For example, Telehealth became an important technology to provide health care from a distance. Also, AI and new technologies have developed rapidly. HTA researchers must keep up with time or take steps ahead of these changes.”
Dr. Jos Vandelaer, World Health Organization Representative to Thailand emphasised the role of HTA during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of WHO in supporting evidence-informed decision-making and capacity building for HTA in the region. In order to strengthen HTA in the region, World Health Organization (WHO) aims to support capacity assessment of HTA at the regional level, issues of current and future interest such as early HTA of COVID-19 vaccines, evidence to inform digital health technologies (Thailand), and initiatives on research for pandemic preparedness.
“It’s good to remind us that HTA is a multi-disciplinary approach that uses explicit methods to inform policy decisions for health. It has been used to support defining benefits packages and addressing policy-relevant questions for health globally. During COVID-19, HTA agencies have directed their efforts to support evidence needs of policy makers including informing vaccination strategies.
Dr. Rungrueng Kitphati, Advisor and spokesman of the Ministry of Public Health Thailand was invited to deliver their keynote speechs
“On behalf of the Chairman of MOPH Intelligence Unit providing advice based on academic research to Executive policymakers, latest information and cooperation of HTAsiaLink network in Thailand, led by The Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HTAP) and international organisations through HTAsiaLink are indispensable factors. Therefore, the Ministry of Public Health is welcome to provide funding for this year’s HTAsiaLink conference.”
HTAsiaLink Annual Conference aims to provide opportunities for researchers to present research work and have discussions with international experts regarding health issues. This conference also provides opportunities for the next generation of young researchers who work in health technology assessment (HTA) field to share knowledge and experience with other researchers. Moreover, it aims to strengthen HTA network in Asia, develop academic capabilities, and support building good relationships between attendees and other counties. The conference includes workshops, lectures, research skills training, research oral and poster competitions, and an exhibition held by the network.
“Throughout 10 years, many things have happened and been accomplished by the HTAsiaLink network. HTA has also been established in more countries in the region. HTAsiaLink conference is being conducted in different country every year,” said Dr. Izzuna Mudla Mohamed Gazali, the Vice President of HTAsiaLink 2021-2022 “The host country will gain benefits in building the capacity and increase awareness of the governments and the stakeholders in the country to realize the importance of HTA and institutionalise HTA further. Working together in this work provides supports for the HTA agencies from all the experts in the region.”
This conference covers 3 plenary sessions: ‘Reimagining the Post COVID-19 Health System and HTA’, ‘Accelerating the Impact of Real-World Evidence in Global HTA Community,’ and ‘Searching for the Holy Grail Solution for Our Health Systems: Are Disruptive Technologies the Answer?’. These sessions are joined by international experts from India, Taiwan, Singapore, United Kingdom, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, and Australia, among others. Moreover, there were 57 oral presentations and 22 poster presentations from researchers who are members of the network.
Kyoko Shimamoto from Keio University, Japan, said “It was my first time joining the HTAsiaLink Conference, and I think it is a great opportunity for networking and discussing together. I was discussing health equity issues in the session, but I think there are many emerging issues that we need to collaborate. So, I think this conference is a great opportunity for young researchers to join and to collaborate.”
Researchers and the working group and secretary team for the Thai Subcommittee for the development of the National List of Essential Medicine (NLEM) also joined this conference. Thanisa Thathong, secretary team said “HTAsiaLink is a network which enables experience sharing between Thailand and other countries. It is very useful to apply stuffs learned from sessions and exchanges with other countries to further improve of the work in Thailand and inform drug inclusions for a more streamlined, efficient, and widely accepted process.” Anchalee Jitraknatee from the Food and Drug Administration (NLEM department) agrees. “HTA and technology is crucial not only for medicines but also applicable for medical devices. Grooming new researchers creates an opportunity to use HTA to inform policy decisions or to promote efficiency.”
“If HTAsiaLink continuously expands, there will be exchanges at a broader level, which leads to development in global health systems. Evidence-informed decision will be used more widely in a robust process in the future.” Assistant Professor Khunjira Udomaksorn, Faculty of Pharmacy, Prince of Songkla University and a member of the working group under the Subcommittee for the development of NLEM shared.
In the closing ceremony, Dr.Somsak Chunharas, HITAP Foundation Board concluded that many issues that were discussed but many questions linger on. These include how to do HTA differently going forward – is rapid HTA an answer? Between real-world evidence and rapid randomized controlled trial at a lower cost, which one is the way to go? Will disruptive technologies such as AI or telemedicine help improve people’s health or will they merely disrupt the old ways of work with little real benefits for equity, patients experiences and job performances.
“I am sure you have more questions, and we will keep finding new answers and learn more from each other.
HTAsiaLink Annual Conference 2023 will be held in Putrajaya, Malaysia, under the theme ‘Reshaping and Reshifting HTA in Navigating Future Landscape.’
About HTAsiaLink
HTAsiaLink is a network of HTA agencies. HTA is systematic research of health technologies and interventions with the aim to inform policy decisions. It considers different aspect of health technology and intervention including safety, effectiveness, cost, cost-effectiveness, among others. HTAsiaLink is established in 2011 and now comprises 34 organisations in more than ten countries in Asia Pacific region. Learn more about HTAsiaLink Annual Conference 2022 at https://htasialink2022.com/ or HTAsiaLink Playlists on Youtube.
HTAsiaLink Playlists:
Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program Foundation
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