The Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP) is a semi-autonomous research unit under Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health. It was established in 2007 as a non-profit organization in order to take responsibility for appraising a wide range of health technologies and programs, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, interventions, individual and community health promotion, and disease prevention as well as social health policy to inform policy decisions in Thailand.
In 2013, HITAP established an international unit, drawing on its experiences locally and internationally, to work at the global level with overseas development aids, international organizations, non-profit organizations, and overseas governments to build capacity for health technology assessment.
We places emphasis on systematic and transparent work as well as the aims to cultivate the public interest and encourage participation from all sectors of society in order to efficiently distribute and allocate the limited resources to full-fill its public objectives.
History of HITAP
- In 2007, Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP) was formally established under the Bureau of Policy and Strategy, Ministry of Public Health.
- In 2008, HITAP supported the development of a quality of life measurement tool, which is necessary for the conduct of HTA.
- In 2008, HITAP in collaboration with Mahidol University developed a standard cost list for health care services with the aim that academia, researchers, and those who are interested were equipped with needed data on cost items.
- In 2009, cost-effectiveness of drugs was added to the criteria for drug inclusion considerations for the National List of Essential Medicine (NLEM). HITAP has acted as a member of Health Economic Working Group (HEWG) under the Subcommittee for development of National List of Essential Medicine since then.
- In 2009, the Subcommittee for Development of Benefit Package and Service Delivery (SCBP), National Health Security Office (NHSO) appointed the International Health Policy Program (IHPP) and HITAP to work as the secretary of the SCBP, producing methodologically sound researches to inform decisions for the development of the benefit package under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
- In 2009, HITAP and other experts in HTA developed methodological guidelines for the conduct of HTA in Thailand. The guidelines were endorsed by the Subcommittee for Development of National List of Essential Medicine as a national standard methodology for conducting such studies in Thailand.
- In 2010, HITAP, in collaboration with Consortium of Thai Medical Schools, promoted rational use of drugs. As a mentor, HITAP provided technical support to medical school personnel in conducting HTA studies.
- In 2010, HITAP together with HTA bodies in Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia established HTA network for countries in Asia region, referred to as ‘HTAsiaLink’.
- In 2010, HITAP Foundation (HITAF) was established to manage and support HITAP’s work.
- In 2011, HITAP issued HTA process guidelines, detailing the steps for conducting a HTA study.
- In 2013, HITAP and other experts in health made a move to push through the Resolution of the World Health Organization (WHO) regional committee for South-East Asia on Health Intervention and Technology Assessment in Support of Universal Health Coverage.
- In 2014, HITAP International Unit (HIU) was established with the objective to provide technical and other supports on HTA for developing countries for institutionalized HTA system in those countries.
- In 2014, HITAP and other experts in health made a move to push through the Resolution of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Health Intervention and Technology Assessment in Support of Universal Health Coverage.
- In 2014, as the secretary of the Thailand National Health Assembly, HITAP assisted in drafting the decision on development of system and process for the conduct and the use of HTA in Thailand.
- In 2014, HITAP updated the quality of life measurement tool and the methodological guidelines for the conduct of HTA in Thailand. Currently, the guidelines are at their second edition.
