20/08/2026
How do clinicians navigate the delicate space where clinical effectiveness meets budget reality? While every practitioner strives to offer cutting-edge care, limited resources mean every clinical decision carries an opportunity cost, hence, forcing health systems to evaluate whether a new intervention provides genuine value, or whether existing technologies require reassessment.
To bridge this critical gap between bedside care and health economics, the Malaysian Health Technology Assessment Section (MaHTAS) hosted the Economic Evaluation Workshop for Clinicians on 19–20 August 2026 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC).
Day 1 laid the foundational framework for value-based care, starting with Dr. Hanin Farhana unpacking why economic evaluation is indispensable in clinical and HTA decision-making. Building on this, Dr. Khairil Idham Ismail guided participants through framing decision problems and interpreting Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratios (ICERs). As the morning unfolded, Dr. Annushiah Vasan Thakumar detailed how health outcomes are quantified using QALYs and utilities, while Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amirah Azzeri explored conducting economic evaluations alongside clinical trials. Moving into the practical afternoon sessions, Mr. Sivaraj Raman introduced implementation research in health economics, leading seamlessly into a hands-on critical appraisal exercise where Dr. Erni Zurina Romli and our team of facilitators guided clinicians through evaluating the utility of economic papers.
Day 2 advanced the discussion into modeling, health systems research, and strategic resource allocation. Ms. Nurkhodrulnada Muhamad Lattepi Khodrul ML opened the morning by demystifying model-based economic evaluations, followed by Dr. Erni Zurina’s insights on interpreting data uncertainty. Expanding the scope further, Dr. Nor Zam Azihan Mohd Hassan shared perspectives on health system research and service delivery evaluations, while Dr. Khairil Idham Ismail highlighted leveraging evidence sources beyond clinical trials, including real-world evidence. Grounding these concepts in system-level reality, Dr. Azmi Nor Mohd Farez bin Ahmat addressed resource constraints, affordability, and opportunity costs, before Dr. Hanin Farhana concluded the technical sessions by focusing on disinvestment and the systematic reassessment of existing health technologies.
MaHTAS extends its heartfelt gratitude to all our expert speakers, facilitators, and participating clinicians for making this workshop a resounding success. Together, we continue to shape an evidence-informed healthcare ecosystem where clinical excellence, economic value, and health equity go hand in hand.
