New Delhi: Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, inaugurated the third edition of the International Symposium on Health Technology Assessment (ISHTA 2025) at Bharat Mandapam today. Organized by the Department of Health Research (DHR) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) India Country Office and the Centre for Global Development (CGD), the symposium focuses on advancing evidence-based policymaking for affordable healthcare.
The event was attended by key dignitaries, including Member of Parliament Bansuri Swaraj, NITI Aayog’s Health Member Prof. Vinod Kumar Paul, Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, DHR Secretary and ICMR Director General Dr. Rajiv Bahl, and Department of Pharmaceuticals Secretary Amit Agarwal.
In his address, Nadda underscored the government’s commitment to strengthening India’s healthcare system under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He highlighted the role of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in optimizing healthcare resources, improving accessibility, and enhancing the efficiency of national health programs in alignment with the goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“The government is committed to ensuring preventive, curative, palliative, and rehabilitative healthcare. Significant strides have been made with the establishment of 22 AIIMS, an increase in MBBS and MD seats, and enhanced training opportunities for paramedics and nursing staff. The government plans to create 75,000 new medical seats, with 30,000 added last year,” he stated.
The Union Minister emphasized that HTA has played a crucial role in prioritizing healthcare interventions. With 19 HTA India resource centers across various states, the initiative has contributed to areas such as tuberculosis detection, healthcare cost optimization, and the incorporation of data-driven decision-making in national health programs.
During the symposium, Nadda launched several key initiatives, including the Open Real-Time PCR Kit for Pulmonary Tuberculosis Diagnosis (Quantiplus® MTB FAST Detection Kit) developed by Huwel Lifesciences, the HTA Technologies Compendium, the HTA Costing Database, and the Patent Mitra Initiative. These efforts aim to support innovators by facilitating technology transfer and patent protection for groundbreaking healthcare solutions.
Prof. Vinod Kumar Paul praised the progress of HTA India, highlighting its critical role in guiding resource allocation and improving health investments. He outlined five key achievements of HTA: its institutionalization within the Department of Health Research, its adoption of globally recognized scientific methodologies tailored for Indian needs, its extensive network of public health experts across India, its contribution to flagship health programs like Ayushman Bharat, and its growing adoption by state governments.
Dr. Rajiv Bahl stressed the importance of leveraging HTA to develop cost-effective healthcare technologies, particularly in light of India’s successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic, where indigenous medical innovations were rapidly developed and validated.
Punya Salila Srivastava highlighted the role of HTA in strengthening digital health initiatives such as eSanjeevani, Ayushman Bharat, TeleMANAS, and uWIN, ensuring cost-effective and accessible healthcare solutions.
Amit Agarwal emphasized the importance of HTA in promoting pharmaceutical innovation and supporting the development of affordable medical products.
The symposium featured keynote addresses, panel discussions, oral and poster presentations, and networking opportunities, fostering collaborations between global experts, policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders. A dedicated Marketplace showcased HTA studies and their impact on health policymaking.
With participation from leading experts and institutions, ISHTA 2025 has set the stage for advancing health technology assessment as a key driver for a sustainable and accessible healthcare system in India and beyond.