Imagine yourself in the heart of Thailand’s health decision-making process, where evidence-informed evaluations affect the future of medical technology and policies! That’s exactly what I learnt during my transformative internship at the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program Foundation (HITAP). My time at HITAP was a whirlwind of learning, growth, and real-world impact, from delving deeply into the complex field of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to attending high-stakes international conferences. Join me as I share my experience and the valuable insights I gathered along the way.
I had the opportunity to intern in the International Unit of HITAP. The objectives of this internship were to understand the process of HTA, its role in informing health decision-making, the role of HITAP in influencing health policy, and to enhance my research skills through hands-on experience with real-world HTA projects. My journey at HITAP began with reviewing resources on HTA and HITAP. It was a great exposure to explore the papers on HTA in Thailand, the use of HTA to inform policies in other Asian countries (Myanmar, Vietnam, and India), and its overall impact in the region. I also reviewed some documents detailing the history of HITAP.
During my time at HITAP, I contributed to several impactful projects:
Telemedicine Reimbursement Project: Supported the WHO-CCS project on telemedicine reimbursement in Thailand by developing a proposal for a scoping review, which included identifying search strategies, screening papers using Covidence software, and participating in stakeholder meetings.
Renal Replacement Therapy HTA in Brunei: Collaborated on a pilot study assessing renal services’ impact on chronic kidney disease patients in Brunei. I participated in policy discussions, prepared meeting documents, and gained hands-on experience in economic modelling, particularly Probabilistic Models.
HTA Registry Development: Assisted in designing a regional HTA registry under HTAsiaLink by analysing existing databases (e.g., Tufts CEA, ClinicalTrials.gov) and providing insights for harmonising HTA processes in the Asia-Pacific region.
Asia-Pacific Health Security Roundtable: Engaged in a regional health security event addressing pandemic preparedness and participated in a field visit to Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute.
ISPH Conference: Contributed to the 14th ISPH Conference in Bangkok by hosting, coordinating, and reporting sessions, and delivering a detailed summary to the core team.
GEAR Website Contribution: I wrote a blog on “Assessing the Performance of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Agencies Developing a Multi-Country, Multi-Stakeholder, and Multi-Dimensional Framework to Mechanisms of Impact,” which enhanced my writing skills and provided an opportunity to be published on the GEAR website.
These experiences honed my skills in research, stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, and communication, emphasising regional collaboration and health system strengthening.
The experiential learning gained during my internship at HITAP included effective communication, networking skills, exposure to diverse opportunities, research skills, time management, project management, and collaborative strategies. The importance of clear and transparent communication, both internally and with external stakeholders, was evident throughout my internship. The HITAP management emphasised networking during events, workshops, and conferences, and provided ample exposure to enhance knowledge. HITAP’s multidisciplinary teams, regional networks like HTAsiaLink, and links with international organisations like WHO have demonstrated their collaborative approach.
My internship with HITAP was nothing short of transformative. From delving into the complexities of HTA to contributing to significant projects and networking with global thought leaders, each moment was a step toward becoming a better health economist. This internship improved my research and sparked an interest in using evidence-based information to create significant change in healthcare systems. I would advise future interns to take full advantage of the exposure that HITAP provides, to be open to taking up multiple projects, to participate in events, conferences, and training programmes as much as possible and make the most of networking opportunities, to be open to learning, to be flexible, open-minded, document the work carried out, and learn from the feedback provided.
As I advance in my profession, I will carry the invaluable lessons and motivation derived from HITAP’s unwavering dedication to improving health outcomes. This experience has strengthened my resolve to make a difference in the global health landscape, armed with the necessary knowledge and determination.
