Hai Nguyen

Assistant Professor
Canada Research Chair (Tier 2)
Canada Institute for Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator
School of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland

APSR 2018 Fukuchi Award winner for the paper Is bronchial thermoplasty cost-effective as treatment for problematic asthma patients? Singapore's perspective on a global model

I would like to thank the APSR, the Editors of Respirology and the Fukuchi Award selection panel for this prestigious award and for the opportunity to attend the 23rd Congress of the APSR in Taipei.

My experience with the Congress was very positive in several aspects. I was impressed by the breadth and depth of the topics covered and enjoyed attending many presentations at the Congress. I particularly liked the symposium on e-cigarettes and health. As a researcher working on substance use policy in Canada, this session was very valuable for me. The three speakers of this session provided insightful and critical coverage of the latest policy efforts to address rising e-cigarette use in 3 different countries (Taiwan, Singapore and the US).


Dr Nguyen (left) and Dr Paul Reynolds (Co-Editor in Chief of Respirology)

I also enjoyed meeting and networking with colleagues from several countries. For a health economist who is interested in cost effectiveness of health care interventions like me, it is both exciting and rewarding to get to know new research of clinicians on new treatments and then contemplate its candidacy for an economic evaluation! Last, but not least, I was amazed by the beauty of Taipei and the warmth and friendliness of its people. The visit to the National Place Museum was definitely one of the highlights of my trip.

If there is one thing that I wished for, however, it was my desire to see more presentations on health services research and health economics during the Congress. Of a total of 776 presentations, I found only 4 presentations on cost and cost effectiveness topics. Given the increasing relevance of cost and cost effectiveness considerations in diagnoses, treatment and management of respiratory diseases, I do hope to see more of this research covered in the next Congress, which I very much look forward to.

Ref: Is bronchial thermoplasty cost-effective as treatment for problematic asthma patients? Singapore's perspective on a global model Hai V Nguyen, Saideep Bose, Shweta Mital, Anthony Chau Ang Yii, Shin Yuh Ang, Sean Shao Wei Lam, Devanand Anantham, Eric Finkelstein, Mariko Siyue Koh DOI: 10.1111/resp.13027


Co-authors (left to right): Devanand Anantham, Shin Yuh Ang, Mariko S Koh, Eric Finkelstein, Sean Shao Wei Lam