| 93 Views 4 September 2026 |
On Friday, September 4, 2026, from 09:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. the Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University (MUPY) hosted the Kick-off Event of the International Consortium for Digital and AI Health Technology Assessment, under the theme “Building a Global Hub for Evidence Generation on HTA of AI & Digital Health,” in Room 606, Ratcharatana Building. The event was presided over by Assoc. Prof. Cherdchai Nopmaneejumruslers, M.D., Vice President for Information Technology and Digital Transformation, Mahidol University, who delivered the opening remarks, while Assoc. Prof. Surakit Nathisuwan, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, delivered welcoming remarks. The event marked an important milestone in the establishment of the Global Center for Health Technology Assessment of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health at MUPY, reinforcing the Faculty’s commitment to advancing evidence-based approaches for emerging health technologies.
The programme featured presentations, a panel discussion, and stakeholder feedback sessions focusing on the challenges and opportunities surrounding HTA for artificial intelligence and digital health technologies. The panel discussion featured 1) Prof. Olivia Wu, William R. Lindsay Chair of Health Economics, Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment (HEHTA), University of Glasgow; 2) Dr. Jasmine Pwu, CEO of the Data Science Center, Fu-Jen Catholic University; 3) Asst. Prof. Dr. Ping-Hsuan Hsieh (Shawn), College of Pharmacy, National Defense Medical Center; and 4) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Usa Chaikledkaew, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sitaporn Youngkong serving as moderator.
The event also brought together an international network of academic institutions, research centers, and health technology assessment (HTA) experts from Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Taiwan, including the Global Health Technology Assessment Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University; Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University; Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment (HEHTA), University of Glasgow; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; Fu-Jen Catholic University; and National Defense Medical Center.
The consortium was established to strengthen cross-country and multidisciplinary collaboration in generating robust evidence and developing approaches for the responsible adoption of AI and digital health technologies. As highlighted during the opening remarks, the rapid advancement of technologies such as predictive analytics, diagnostic algorithms, remote health monitoring, and digital therapeutics presents both significant opportunities and new challenges for healthcare systems and policymakers. HTA therefore plays a crucial role in evaluating emerging technologies in terms of safety, clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, equity, and responsiveness to societal needs, while supporting sustainable Universal Health Coverage. The initiative seeks to connect expertise in HTA, health economics, digital health, artificial intelligence, data science, demography, and public health to contribute to the development of evidence and evaluation approaches that can be applied across national and international contexts.
The initiative directly supports the Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University’s mission to produce and disseminate research and innovation meeting national and international standards, particularly through the generation of high-quality evidence and the development of international research collaboration in HTA for AI and digital health. It also contributes to the mission of producing graduates with quality, morality, and competencies responsive to societal needs by creating an environment for knowledge exchange and capacity building in an emerging area of healthcare and health technology.
In addition, the consortium strengthens the Faculty’s role as an academic and professional hub by connecting multidisciplinary expertise and supporting evidence-informed decision-making for health systems. Through its international partnerships and commitment to responsible technological adoption, the initiative contributes particularly to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by supporting safe, effective, equitable, and evidence-based healthcare innovation; SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) by promoting responsible innovation and evidence generation for AI and digital health technologies; and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through sustained collaboration among academic institutions, researchers, HTA experts, and stakeholders across countries.
News Article by the International Relations Unit
Photography by the Information Technology Unit
