PGIMER: India's Top Health Tech Assessment Institute

PGIMER, Chandigarh, has achieved a remarkable feat by being awarded the title of India’s Best Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Institute for the second consecutive year. This prestigious recognition was presented at the ARISE 2025 national conclave, which took place in New Delhi, organized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). The event witnessed participation from over 35 top medical colleges and ICMR institutes across the country.

The award was jointly presented by Prof V K Paul from NITI Aayog and Dr Rajiv Bahl, the Director-General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). This accolade underscores PGIMER's significant contributions in the field of health technology assessment, which is crucial for informed decision-making in healthcare.

PGIMER’s leadership in HTA is significantly supported by the HTA Resource Hub established by the Department of Health Research at the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health. Under the guidance of Prof Shankar Prinja, a Professor of Health Economics, the Hub has played a pivotal role in enhancing national capacity for evidence-based health decision-making.

During the ceremony, Prof Paul emphasized that achieving the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ hinges on strong and credible institutions. He highlighted the essential role of Health Technology Assessment in ensuring that public funds are allocated to interventions that yield the greatest health benefits efficiently and equitably.

Reflecting on India's HTA journey over the past eight years, Dr Bahl noted that HTA has emerged as a powerful policy tool for the Indian government. It aids in rational resource allocation, designing reimbursement rates under the Ayushman Bharat–PMJAY scheme, and supports evidence-based coverage decisions for medical services.

Prof Vivek Lal, Director of PGIMER, expressed pride in the institute’s commitment to policy-relevant research and reiterated the importance of strengthening HTA efforts nationwide. Prof Prinja also addressed the challenges institutions face in conducting and applying HTA for policy use. He proposed a roadmap for advancing HTA in India, which includes fostering sustained engagement with policymakers and improving the design and evidence generation of studies.

This recognition not only highlights PGIMER's excellence but also sets a benchmark for other institutions in the country, showcasing the crucial link between health technology assessment and effective healthcare policy.