รูปแบบและกลไกสำนักงานเศรษฐกิจสาธารณสุข: บทเรียนต่างประเทศสู่ข้อเสนอเชิงนโยบายไทย

Weerachai Nolwachai; Teerapun Lotongkum

Authors

Weerachai Nolwachai Office of the Inspector General Office of the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
Teerapun Lotongkum Independent Scholar, Lat Phrao, Bangkok 10230, Thailand

Keywords:

Office of Health Economics, Health Economics, Public Health Policy, Health Technology Assessment

Abstract

Health systems worldwide face challenges arising from the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, demographic transition, advances in medical technology, and constraints on public budgets, requiring that policymaking draw upon economic analysis alongside clinical evidence. In Thailand, despite the country's success in achieving universal health coverage, the containment and forecasting of long-term fiscal burdens and the equitable allocation of health resources remain policy gaps for which no single agency holds unified responsibility. The purpose of this academic article was to examine the organizational models and operational mechanisms of health economics agencies in the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Korea, in order to synthesize lessons for designing an Office of Health Economics in Thailand, using a documentary research approach. The results of this study were as follows: although the three countries differ in their institutional structures, they share several essential features. These lessons led to proposals for four mechanisms: assessing the cost-effectiveness of health technologies, managing national health data, forecasting fiscal burdens, and evaluating policies after implementation. Establishing this agency would help fill policy gaps and support the long-term sustainability of Thailand's health system.

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