Health Technology Assessment of the Health Economics Working Group under the Subcommittee for the Development of the National List of Essential Medicines between 2016 and 2018

Abstract

The National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) in Thailand was first developed in 1972 and has been revised continuously. In 2008, health economic evaluation and budget impact analysis became a part of the development process of the NLEM, especially for high-cost or high-budget medicines to control healthcare expenses and promote the effectiveness of healthcare services. The Health Eco­nomics Working Group (HEWG) under the Subcommittee for the Development of the NLEM has served an important role in health technology assessment (HTA) to the Subcommittee. No studies had ever attempted to review the processes and outputs of the HEWG’s authority. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate HTA processes and outputs of the HEWG between 2016 and 2018. The study design was descriptive research employing two main approaches, namely document reviews and participant observations as secretariat members of the HEWG. Data analysis comprised descriptive statistics and content analysis. Results were reported in two parts consisting of the HEWG’s work processes and research outputs. The results on work processes indicated that the HEWG’s operational procedures consisted of three main activities: the selection of research team, the managing of research compliant to HTA guidelines, and the quality review and appraisal of research output. As for research outputs, 30 research topics were proposed between 2016 and 2018, with 17 topics (56%) being completed and submitted to the Coordination and Consolidation Working Group for further action. Additionally, the composition of the HEWG and research teams came from multiple sectors of the health systems, leading to inclusive participation and a high degree of transparency. The research process under the HEWG had clear procedures and timelines to support the development of the NLEM in a timely manner, and included a rigorous appraisal of research quality. However, the HEWG should further develop and update their operational procedures to overcome certain problems and obstacles such as the lack of human resources and an inefficient management system, and to prepare for new future challenges.