This mission report outlines the HTA Capacity Building Workshop, held in Thimphu, Bhutan, from 6 to 8 October 2025. The workshop marked an important step in advancing the institutionalisation of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) within Bhutan’s health system. Jointly organised by the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Division (HITAD), Ministry of Health, Bhutan, and the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program Foundation (HITAP), Thailand, the workshop aimed to strengthen national capacity in HTA, raise awareness among key partners, and promote evidence-informed policymaking. It also served to reinforce regional partnerships and support Bhutan’s broader vision of developing a sustainable HTA ecosystem aligned with its national health policy goals.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders from government, academia, and the health sector for three days of interactive sessions combining lectures, group discussions, and hands-on exercises. Participants explored the fundamental concepts of HTA, including economic evaluation, evidence synthesis, budget impact analysis, and ethical considerations in health decision-making. Bhutan’s own HTA experiences were showcased through local case studies, fostering reflection on current practices, challenges, and opportunities for strengthening the system. A follow-up strategic meeting between HITAD and HITAP on 9 October 2025 reviewed workshop outcomes and identified next steps to advance collaboration on implementing HTA in Bhutan.
Overall, the visit successfully enhanced awareness and understanding of HTA among stakeholders in Bhutan. This, in turn, helped strengthen institutional linkages with regional partners and laid the groundwork for continued cooperation through upcoming initiatives, including participation in the Regional HTA Workshop in India and engagement with platforms such as HTAsiaLink and Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC). The workshop demonstrated Bhutan’s growing commitment to embedding HTA as a cornerstone of evidence-informed health policy and sustainable resource allocation.
