Implementation of Health Technology Assessment and Management Course in Undergraduate Program in Biomedical...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering Education
• Health Technology Assessment
• Medical Device Management

Background:

• The World Health Assembly recommends national strategies for health technology assessment and management, especially for medical devices.
• Biomedical engineering programs need to equip students with skills relevant to evolving healthcare landscapes.
• Indonesia's Biomedical Engineering Program at ITB introduced a specialized elective in 2021.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce Health Technology Assessment and Management (HTAM) as an elective course for undergraduate biomedical engineering students.
• To provide students with a broader understanding of career opportunities in the field.
• To align curriculum with global health technology assessment (HTA) frameworks.

Main Methods:

• Course syllabus developed based on WHO Medical Devices Technical Series and European Network for Health Technology Assessment guidelines.
• Implementation of the HTA Core Model for Rapid Relative Effectiveness Assessments.
• Delivery of course content by industry practitioners alongside a main lecturer.
• Student perceptions, comments, and feedback collected via questionnaires.

Main Results:

• The course successfully provided both theoretical content and practical context through practitioner-led sessions.
• Students reported gaining a broader insight into career opportunities as biomedical engineers in Indonesia.
• The curriculum integrated key HTA principles and models.

Conclusions:

• The Health Technology Assessment and Management elective effectively enhances biomedical engineering students' understanding of the field.
• Practitioner involvement enriches the educational experience, bridging academic knowledge with industry realities.
• The course supports the development of future professionals equipped for medical device management and HTA in Indonesia.