About Us
At the Strengthening Active Partnerships for Policy and Health Intervention Research and Evaluation (SAPPHIRE) consortium, we aim to advance and sustain universal health coverage (UHC) and strengthen health systems in countries and at the regional level through evidence-informed decision-making. We seek to leverage the expertise and network of member organisations to institutionalise the use of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and health service research to support use of evidence for policy, to increase access to health services even with limited resources in our own and partner countries. Key activities include conducting and supporting research on diverse topics, building capacity to produce and consume evidence generated, creating global public goods, convening partners to share experiences and knowledge, and address common issues.
Our consortium has assembled the experience and reputation of internationally renowned experts in multidisciplinary fields related to HTA and health service research through the Thailand National Health Foundation (NHF); the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP); the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore (SSHSPH NUS); Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU); Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study (HIAS), Hitotsubashi University (HU); University of Padjajaran (UNPAD); Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit (LOMWRU); and the Unit for Health Evidence and Policy (UHEP), University of Health Sciences, Lao PDR. These organisations bring together an internationally acknowledged reputation of expertise with an extensive track record in the areas of public health, priority setting and capacity building.
We are structured to have an Advisory Committee comprising leads of each institution to discuss high-level issues; an Operations Committee that includes representatives of each institution to share on-going projects and identify areas for collaboration on a more regular basis; and a Management Committee, housed at the institution managing grants.
Our Background
We believe that health technology assessment (HTA) is the key to stand up to economic pressure in the health sector. It is a way out of limited health resources as well as decide on what health service should be provide to whom and at what cost under the constraint that it is impossible to offer every health service available.
Our consortium have assembled by bringing together the experience and reputation of the National Health Foundation (NHF), the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP) and the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH); National University of Singapore, Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study; Hitotsubashi University, and Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit with nationally and internationally renowned experts in multidisciplinary fields related to Health Technology (HTA). These organisations bring together an internationally acknowledged reputation of objectivity, independence and high quality research with an extensive track record in the areas of public health, priority setting and capacity building.
