State-Level Workshop Organized to Promote Evidence-Based Decision-Making in Health Services

Jaipur, Sept 2025 : A state-level consultative workshop was organized on Friday at a private hotel in Jaipur by the Resource Center for Health Technology Assessment (RCHTA), AIIMS Jodhpur, aimed at strengthening evidence-based decision-making in the state’s health system. The workshop was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Health Research, and saw participation from over 50 state health officials, program directors, academicians, and experts.

The workshop, themed “Assessment for Evidence-Informed Decision Making: Health Technology Assessment Perspective”, was inaugurated by Dr. Amit Yadav, Mission Director, NHM Rajasthan. Dr. T. Shubhamangalam, Additional Mission Director, NHM Rajasthan, also attended. Dr. Yadav highlighted the critical role of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in making health services more cost-effective and equitable. Expert sessions focused on the practical applications of HTA.

Dr. Krishna C. Sahu emphasized the utility of HTA in state-level decision-making processes and shared examples from India. Dr. Oshima Sachin provided an overview of HTA in India, presenting its national perspective.

Prof. Dr. Kuldeep Singh from AIIMS Jodhpur shared the institute’s vision for HTA and highlighted key studies, including assessments of intracranial bleed detectors and hemoglobinometers. Dr. Prem Singh, nodal officer for State Health Technology Assessment, stressed capacity building at the state level, inter-institutional collaboration, and identification of priority research areas.

Professors from medical colleges, NHM project directors, and state program managers actively participated in discussions, deliberating on primary research areas.

The workshop proved to be a milestone in integrating HTA into state health policy and planning, further strengthening the state’s commitment to evidence-based and patient-centered health services.