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.
