Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on HTAsiaLink network members

Sitanggang RJ 1 , Chavarina KK 1 , K C S 1 , Wadhwa R 2 , Wiweko B 3 , Purba FD 4 Show all authors , Ghazali IMM 5 , Jacobsen JHW 6 , Dilokthornsakul P 7 , Mayxay M 8 , Isaranuwatchai W 1 , Wang Y 9 , Chen YL 10 , Ong BSK 11 , Kar S 12 , Avdeyev A 13 , Teerawattananon Y 1

Affiliations 

  • 1 Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP), Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
  • 2 Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), India
  • 3 Indonesia Health Technology Assessment Committee (InaHTAC), Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia
  • 4 Center for Health Technology Assessment (CHTA), Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia
  • 5 Malaysian Health Technology Assessment Section (MaHTAS), Ministry of Health, Malaysia
  • 6 Research and Evaluation, Australian Safety and Efficacy Register of New Interventional Procedures-Surgical, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Australia
  • 7 Center for Medical and Health Technology Assessment (CM-HTA), Chiang Mai University, Thailand
  • 8 Unit for Health Evidence and Policy (UHEP), University of Health Sciences (UHS), and Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit (LOMWRU), Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 9 China National Health Development Research Center (CNHDRC), People's Republic of China
  • 10 Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE), Health Technology Assessment, Taiwan
  • 11 Agency for Care Effectiveness, Ministry of Health, Singapore
  • 12 Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education And Research (JIPMER), India
  • 13 Medical Center Hospital of the President's Affairs Administration, Republic of Kazakhstan
Int J Technol Assess Health Care, 2024 Nov 26;40(1):e63.
PMID: 39587775 DOI: 10.1017/S0266462324000357

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on HTAsiaLink members at the organizational level and provides recommendations for mitigating similar challenges in the future.

METHODS: A survey was disseminated among HTAsiaLink members to assess the COVID-19 impact in three areas: (i) inputs, (ii) process, and (iii) outputs of the Health Technology Assessment organizations' (HTAOs) research operations and HTA process in general.

RESULTS: Survey results showed that most HTAOs hired more staff and secured similar or higher funding levels during COVID-19. Nevertheless, some organizations reported high staff turnover. COVID-19-relevant research was prioritized, and most of the organizations had to adapt their research design to meet the needs of policymakers. Time constraints in conducting research and inability to collect primary data were reported as impacts on the research process. Overall, the number of research projects and accessibility of respondents' publications increased during COVID-19.

CONCLUSIONS: Research demand for HTAOs increased during COVID-19 and impacted their research process; however, they demonstrated resilience and adaptability to provide timely evidence for policymakers. With the growing reliance on HTA, HTAOs require adequate financial support, continuous capacity building, collaboration, and partnership, innovative HTA methods, and a pragmatic yet robust, evidence-to-policy process in preparation for future pandemics.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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