New Delhi|HL
Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurates International Symposium on Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in presence of Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
India is a global example where we have used technology for making available efficient services to the people. Technology enables accessibility and reduces out of pocket expenditure for citizens” This was stated by Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, Hon’ble Vice President of India at the second International Symposium on Health Technology Assessment (ISHTA) 2023 in the presence of Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, here today. Dr. V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog was also present at the ceremony.
The international symposium was organised by Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with World Health Organisation (WHO) and Centre for Global Development. The symposium with the theme “Affordability, Availability and Accessibility of Healthcare Technologies through Evidence generated by Health Technologies Assessments (HTA) for Universal Health Coverage” has provided a platform for stakeholders such as academia, researchers, policy makers, industry, etc., to share their views on importance of HTA, international perspective on health technology use and host first ever HTA marketplace in the country, providing knowledge/product sharing platform. The symposium was attended by about 250 participants.
Reiterating the clarion call made by Hon’ble Prime Minister about services reaching the last mile and remotest part of the country following the philosophy of Antyodaya, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar said that “India is moving towards ensuring affordability, accessibility and equity through revolutionary steps like Aatmanirbharta initiative, behavioral changes through Swacchh Bharat Abhiyan, affordable medicines through more than 9,100 Jan Aushadhi Kendras, strengthening medical workforce, institutions etc. The government has also taken several initiatives to ease the burden on the poor and downtrodden section. With the world largest, transparent and accountable program of Ayushman Bharat being launched by this government, it is catering to the citizens welfare and simultaneously generating jobs and enterprise”. Speaking about significance of health technologies and its assessment processes, Shri Dhankhar threw light on the crucial nature of technology in ensuring equity. He said that “technology is a turning point in ensuring quality governance. The availability of healthcare services especially in the recently opened Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) is a gamechanger for a common citizens.”
