Abstract
Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and academic evidence are important tools for policy makers
in formulating policies. However, process for HTA and evidence synthesis are often time-consuming,
causing delays in policy-making and are not suitable for urgent policy questions or those with time
constraints. This research aims to synthesise data to answer urgent or time-limited public health
policy questions (defined here as requiring answers within no more than 3 months) and to make
recommendations should a rapid response process are to be established to answer policy-related
questions in Thailand. The scope of this study includes questions about policies regarding the health
decentralisation to to local administrative organizations, and questions seeking for information to
support health policy developments.
This research proposes that the initial criteria used in selecting appropriate questions to be answered
through a rapid evidence synthesis process include urgency, certainty, and low budget impact.
However, other factors also need to be considered when applying the criteria to health policiesand technologies-related questions. From 1 November 2023 to 31 January 2025, the researcher
answered a total of 16 questions that met the initial criteria for selection. This research found that
although rapid data synthesis cannot replace a full HTA, it is a very useful tool for developing public
health policies.
