New Delhi: Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Saturday inaugurated the third International Symposium on Health Technology Assessment (ISHTA 2025) at Bharat Mandapam.

Organized by the Department of Health Research (DHR), the event saw participation from global experts, policymakers, and stakeholders.

Addressing the gathering, Nadda underscored the government's commitment to providing accessible, affordable, and equitable healthcare. “We are focused on preventive, curative, palliative, and rehabilitative healthcare. HTA India resource centres, spread across 19 states, have played a crucial role in achieving key health goals, including tuberculosis detection and healthcare cost optimization,” he said.

Highlighting the expansion of medical education, he noted that 22 AIIMS institutions have been established, with 75,000 medical seats being created, including 30,000 last year.

The symposium, themed "Bridging Evidence to Policy: Health Technology Assessment for Affordable Healthcare," featured the launch of key initiatives, including the Open Real-Time PCR Kit for TB diagnosis and the HTA Technologies Compendium.

NITI Aayog's Vinod Kumar Paul lauded HTA's role in evidence-based policymaking, resource allocation, and guiding programs like Ayushman Bharat. WHO Representative Dr. Roderico Ofrin and Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava highlighted HTA's contribution to digital health and cost-effective innovations.

The event also hosted panel discussions, research presentations, and a 'Marketplace' showcasing HTA studies.