In Bhutan, respiratory infections are some of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in children. Pneumonia, an infection of the lungs, is among the top 10 common causes of children’s death in the country. Not only does it impose costs on society that may not be immediately visible (e.g. produ

In 2015, a HITAP International Unit (HIU) survey identified the major challenges (both contextual and technical) to the conduct of rigorous economic evaluations for policymakers’ use in healthcare decision making. • From this study, HITAP created an online platform called the Guide to health Econ

It is vital to have evidence-informed clinical practice guidelines or clinical indications to guide the usage of high-cost drugs in the benefits package under the Indonesian universal health coverage (JKN), managed by BPJS Kesehatan. A transparent and legit mechanism is required to support and mo

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Indonesia with approximately 28,000 patients diagnosed each year. Without population-based screening, patients are often treated when they reach the advanced stage. Bevacizumab, a newly available high-cost treatment for metastatic colorectal ca

Cetuximab is provided for mCRC patients with positive KRAS wild type, and also head and neck cancer patients as indicated in the Indonesian National Drug Formulary. However, currently, it is also used for indications not specified in the National Drug Formulary. Adding cetuximab to chemothera

Global health is defined as health issues that transcend national boundaries. This notion implies a shared global responsibility for health and is associated with actors beyond country government. In WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR), the Regional Committee adopted a resolution in 2010 to enco

Achieving universal health coverage (UHC) requires policy initiatives supported by long-term system reform and an accountable governance structure that can sustainably deliver all three dimensions of UHC, population coverage, breadth of benefits package, and degree of financial coverag

“United we stand, divided we fall” is a Thai idiom used to exemplify the importance of staying united and of teamwork and common interests. This idiom is reaffirmed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, shown in the global nature of catastrophe and the shared prospects of recovery. However, p

Sedentary behavior and physical inactivity increase the risks of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, which contribute to approximately 70% of all-cause mortality among Thais. There is a misunderstanding that exercise in leisure time can n

Digital health is an umbrella term that includes all healthcare services that are provided by ICT. From one’s personal wearable devices to the use of big data and AI in healthcare come under digital health’ Under the umbrella of digital health technology, various sub-groups such as electronic