ABOUT MUHTA

HTA is the systematic evaluation of properties, effects and/or impacts of health policy, and health technologies and interventions. The assessment is conducted by interdisciplinary groups using explicit analytical frameworks, drawing on clinical, epidemiological, health economic, social, ethical issues, and other information and methodologies.

Mahidol University will offer the new world-class postgraduate program on HTA in the academic year 2016. The program receives collaboration from several distinguished faculties of Mahidol University (Faculty of public Health, faculty of pharmacy, faculty of medicine at Ramathibodi hospital, faculty of medicine at Siriraj Hospital, faculty of sciences and humanties, faculty of tropical medicine, Institute for population and social research), internationally-renown experts, and several HTA organizations and network such as Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP), HTAsiaLink, International Decision Support Initiative (iDSI), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Priority Cost Effective lessons for Systems Strengthening (PRICELESS). The program will offer financial support for the high qualified students from Low-and Middle Income countries. Mahidol University is pleased to announce the launching a new international graduate program on Health Technology Assessment Program (HTA) in January 2017.

Currently, we offer 2 graduate programs

1. Master of Science program in Health Technology Assessment (International Program)
2. Doctor of Philosophy program in Health Technology Assessment (International Program)

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Mahidol University (MU) was established last July 17, 2015 under the auspice of the International Decisions Support Initiative (iDSI). Clinical Professor Dr. Udom Kachintorn, President of Mahidol University, Thailand, and Sir Andrew Dillon, Chief Executive of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), United Kingdom, signed the MOU for collaboration to support capacity building in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) for priority setting to achieve universal health coverage (UHC).

This collaboration paved the way for the establishment of the “Mahidol University Health Technology Assessment Program” or MUHTA graduate program. This collaboration initiated provision of scholarships to candidates from HTA-related organizations in LMICs such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh, India, and Thailand.

The MUHTA program was approved by Mahidol University Council since 15 July 2016. The first semester started in January 2017. It is a joint collaboration of 6 faculties and 1 institute, namely:

(1) Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital;
(2) Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital;
(3) Faculty of Pharmacy;
(4) Faculty of Public Health;
(5) Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities;
(6) Institute for Population and Social Research; and,
(7) Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Prof. Udom Kachintorn (left) and Sir Andrew Dillon (right) during the MOU signing in July 2015

To be a world-class graduate program in HTA for LMICs.

To build up social and intellectual capital on HTA for LMICs to support priority setting in achieving UHC

The goals of the program are:

1. to provide graduates with a critical understanding of the entire process of HTA using multidisciplinary fields
2. to produce graduates who are able to evaluate the social, economic, organizational and ethical impact of a health intervention, health policy or health technology and its role in support priority setting and universal health coverage especially in LMICs
3. to provide students with real-world knowledge and research skills relevant to the principles and techniques needed by those involved in HTA, especially for priority setting in LMICs (designing, commissioning, and critical appraisal of HTA study).

To achieve these objectives, the program organized a Curriculum Management Committee who are experts in their respective fields of experience. We also have devised the following teaching and learning strategies to achieve our objectives:

1. Experiential learning and hands-on experience using real-world examples
2. Experiences exchanged through seminars and discussions guided by international experts as visiting professors
3. Using real world examples emphasizing LMIC case studies, compared with HIC lessons;
4. Thesis and dissertation topics, which address current policy questions concerning resource allocation in LMICs.

The MUHTA Graduate Program has been designed to produce:

1. technically-competent graduates, with an adequate understanding of policy development processes, who can apply knowledge and skills in the context of LMICs
2. relevant research studies necessary to inform policies in LMICs (including development partners’ policy)
3. collaborative projects for HTA training and research.