India, Sri Lanka deepen healthcare ties through HTA knowledge exchange
A five-day Knowledge Exchange Workshop on Health Technology Assessment (HTA) for a delegation from Sri Lanka began on Monday at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in the national capital.
The workshop is being hosted by the Department of Health Research under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs. The initiative aims to support the development and institutionalisation of Health Technology Assessment systems in Sri Lanka.
Addressing the inaugural session, Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research, welcomed the Sri Lankan delegation. He described the workshop as an important step in strengthening bilateral cooperation in healthcare and advancing HTA knowledge exchange, reflecting India’s commitment to regional health collaboration.
Additional Secretary, Department of Health Research, Anu Nagar highlighted the role of Health Technology Assessment India in strengthening evidence-based healthcare decision-making in the country. She expressed confidence that the exchange of experiences and best practices would contribute to the effective institutionalisation of HTA in Sri Lanka.
Health Technology Assessment India (HTAIn), an attached office of the Department of Health Research, plays a key role in evaluating health technologies to support cost-effective and evidence-based healthcare interventions across India.
The five-day workshop will cover key areas including HTA institutional frameworks, governance mechanisms, methodologies, pricing, and procurement-related decision-making. The programme also seeks to identify potential areas of collaboration to strengthen HTA capacities and health systems in both India and Sri Lanka.
