Union Health Minister JP Nadda reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to strengthening India’s healthcare system by ensuring preventive, curative, palliative, and rehabilitative care for all. Speaking at the inauguration of the third International Symposium on Health Technology Assessment (ISHTA 2025) at Bharat Mandapam, he highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of accessible and affordable healthcare. On this occasion, he launched several key resources, includingThe Open Real-Time PCR Kit for Pulmonary Tuberculosis diagnosis (Quantiplus MTB FAST Detection Kit by Huwel Lifesciences), The HTA Technologies Compendium, The HTA Costing Databaseand The Patent Mitra initiative.
Emphasizing the role of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in evidence-based policymaking, Nadda stated that HTA is crucial for building an efficient, equitable, and high-quality healthcare system in line with the goals of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). He reiterated the government’s focus on strengthening primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare while noting significant strides in medical education and infrastructure development.
The minister pointed out that 22 AIIMS institutes have been established, with a significant rise in MBBS and MD seats, alongside expanded training programs for paramedics and nursing professionals. The government also aims to add 75,000 medical seats, with 30,000 already created last year. Nadda further highlighted the role of HTA India resource centres across 19 states, which have been instrumental in setting healthcare priorities, enhancing TB detection, optimizing costs, and integrating data-driven decision-making into national health programs.
Referring to the key resourceslaunched on this occasion, Nadda said, “These flagship initiatives mark a significant leap in supporting innovation, ensuring that groundbreaking research is protected through patents and made accessible via seamless technology transfer,”. He also highlighted the Medical Education Patent Mitra initiative by ICMR, which aligns with the Med Tech Mitra program, demonstrating India’s commitment to fostering medical innovation.Concluding his address, Nadda emphasized that HTA will play a crucial role in achieving ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, the government’s vision for a developed India.
The event was organized by the Department of Health Research (DHR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) India Country Office and the Centre for Global Development (CGD). This year’s theme was “Bridging Evidence to Policy: Health Technology Assessment for Affordable Healthcare.”
