There was an overriding theme that HITAP’s activities focused on during the Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) 2015 – priority setting, which is also the theme for next year’s PMAC. As a new member of the HITAP team, I was involved in different activities during the Conference, particularly help

Thailand’s increasing demand for coal and fossil fuel-based energy has substantial climate, environmental, and public health consequences. In response, the Ministry of Energy has ambitious plans to increase the share of renewable energy to over 50% by 2037. A high priority intervention included in this plan is photovoltaic systems or ‘solarisat

This blog has been jointly written by Dr. Phetsavanh Chanthavilay from the Institute of Research and Education Development, University of Health Sciences, Lao PDR, and Mr. Nantasit Luangasanatip from the Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Thailand. Their participation in this e

BANGKOK, April 3, 2026 – At the Best Western Chatuchak Hotel, the Environmental Economics Unit (E2U) of the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program Foundation (HITAP), alongside national energy and environmental partners, hosted a milestone seminar: “Comprehensive Assessment of Co-bene

Indonesia launched its universal healthcare program in January 2014, a process that had been initiated in 2004. The scheme, Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional or JKN, is administered by a public agency called Badan Penyelenggara Jamina Sosial  or BPJS Health and is expected to cover all citizens by 2019. Wi

The Health Technology Assessment (HTA), which is a crucial tool for setting health intervention priorities, has been rapidly developing in Asia-Pacific, but is still not fully employed by many countries in policy decision making. Although HTA institutions and networks have been operating successfully in OECD countries and a few of the middle-income

Rapeepong Suphanchaimat1,2 Angkana Sommanustweechai1 , Chiraporn Khitdee1 , Chompoonut Thaichinda1 , Kanang Kantamaturapoj3 , Pattara Leelahavarong4 , Pensom Jumriangrit1 , Thitikorn Topothai1 , Thunthita Wisaijohn1 Weerasak Putthasri1 1International Health Policy Program (IHPP), Ministry of Publi

Background Economic evaluation has been implemented to inform policy in many areas, including coverage decisions, technology pricing, and the development of clinical practice guidelines. However, there are barriers to evidence-based policy in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that include li

Countries across Asia are increasingly turning to health technology assessment (HTA) to ensure healthcare decisions are guided by appropriate evidence. However, many still face challenges in institutionalizing HTA, including building technical expertise, applying economic evaluation in decision-maki

Vaccination is a critical and cost-effective public health intervention that significantly reduces child mortality. Since the inception of the World Health Organization’s Expanded Program on Immunization (WHO-EPI) in 1974, vaccines have saved millions of lives, with a Lancet study highlighting that