Nadda Highlights Government’s Focus on Holistic Healthcare
New Delhi: Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda announced Saturday that the central government is prioritizing healthcare that encompasses prevention, cure, rehabilitation, and palliative care. Speaking at the inauguration of the third “International Symposium on Health Technology Assessment (ISHTA 2025)” held at Bharat Mandapam, Nadda emphasized the critical role of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in shaping evidence-based policies to establish a healthcare system that is both efficient and of high quality, aligning with Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals.
Nadda highlighted the government’s dedication to strengthening India’s healthcare infrastructure, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of accessible and affordable healthcare services for all citizens. The minister also detailed efforts to bolster primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare levels nationwide.
“The government is focused on providing healthcare, which is preventive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative,” Nadda stated.
He noted the establishment of 22 state-of-the-art AIIMS (All India Institutes of Medical Sciences) and a significant expansion in MBBS and MD seats. Additionally, Nadda pointed to a rise in training programs for paramedic and nursing staff, as well. In the medical sector, the Union government plans to add 75,000 seats, with 30,000 already added last year.
Nadda also elaborated on the HTA India resource centers, which are currently spread across 19 states. These centers are seen as important tools set for health priorities. He further explained how these centers have aided in achieving various health objectives, such as the detection of tuberculosis (TB), optimizing healthcare expenditure, and integrating evidence-based data into national health programs.
During the event, Nadda launched several key resources. This included the Open Real-Time PCR Kit for diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis (Quatiplus ® MTB FAST Detection Kit, developed by Huwel Lifesciences). He also launched the HTA Technologies Compendium and the HTA Costing Database, along with the Patent Mitra initiative.
“With the launch of these flagship initiatives, our country is taking a significant leap towards supporting our innovators,” Nadda said. “This platform is designed to provide crucial support to scientists, researchers and institutions, ensuring that their ground-breaking works are protected through patents and made available to the public through seamless technology transfer.”
Nadda also emphasized that the “Medical Education Patent Mitra” initiative of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) complements the Med Tech Mitra initiative, demonstrating ICMR’s commitment to advancing medical innovation. He concluded his address by reaffirming HTA’s role in the government’s commitment to providing inclusive, affordable, equitable, and accessible healthcare for all.
“HTA will play an important role in the realisation of Viksit Bharat by 2047, as envisaged by our prime minister,” he said, referring to the Prime Minister’s vision of a developed India.
The symposium was organized by the Department of Health Research (DHR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) India Country Office and the Centre for Global Development (CGD).
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda addressing the International Symposium on Health Technology Assessment.
