PGI School of Public Health Organizes Conference on Health Technology Assessment

By 121 News

Chandigarh 22^nd January:- School of Public Health, Postraduate Institute of Medical Education Chandigarh in collaboration with National Health Systems Resource Centre, New Delhi organized a one –day First National Conference on Health Technology Assessment on 22^nd January 2016 at PGI Chandigarh. It was preceded by a four day fellowship program from 18^th to 21^st January 2016 on 6^th International Fellowship on Health Technology Assessment, which had included deliberations on several methodological and applicability issues regarding appraising clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of new medical technologies, devices and programs. More than 40 researchers and academicians from leading public health institutions such as National Health Systems Resource Centre, New Delhi; Sri Chitra Institute in Trivandrum; AFMC Pune; MAMC New Delhi; JIPMER Pondicherry; Indian Institute of Public Health, New Delhi; several other medical colleges in neighboring states of Haryana and Punjab; state level Government officials from the state of Punjab; and other organizations undertaking HTA in public and private sector benefitted from this fellowship program. More than 150 participants from all over India participated in the 1-day national conference.

HTA is a multidisciplinary field that systematically examines the safety, clinical efficacy and effectiveness, cost, cost-effectiveness, organizational implications, social consequences, legal and ethical considerations of the application of a health intervention and technology – usually a clinical or surgical intervention, drug or medical device. Its application may assist government in better allocation for resources ensuring better equity and access. It can further reduce or eliminate the unsafe and ineffective interventions which may also otherwise cost high.

Several eminent speakers delivered important lectures in the 4-day fellowship and the conference. The conference was inaugurated by Prof Savita Malhotra, Dean, PGIMER. She lauded the efforts of School of Public Health to organize India's first conference on Health Technology Assessment. Prof Rajesh Kumar highlighted the role of the School of Public Health in developing capacity in India in the field of health economics and public health education. Dr. Jitendar Sharma, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Health Technology Assessment at the National Health Systems Resource Centre presented an overview of the efforts undertaken by the India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. More than 350 fellows have been trained in India as part of this initiative of capacity building over the last 5 years. Dr Ashoo Grover from the Department of Health Research in India highlighted the efforts of Government for setting up a Health Technology Assessment Board for evaluating new drugs, devices, technologies and programs for their cost effectiveness before introducing them in program. Dr Shankar Prinja, Associate Professor in Health Economics at PGI and who was the Organizing Secretary of the conference demonstrated how application of economic principles in health care could improve the efficiency and over health status. Prof. Prakesh Shah from University of Toronto delivered plenary talk on use of evidence based medicine for improving quality of care.