PGIMER Chandigarh Retains Top Spot as India’s Best Health Technology Assessment Institute

The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh, has once again emerged as a national leader in health policy research by win the title of India’s Best Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Institute for the 2nd consecutive year. The award was conferred by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) at the ARISE 2025 national conclave held in New Delhi. This recognition highlights PGIMER’s growing importance in supporting the Government of India with evidence-based, cost-effective, and equitable healthcare decisions.

About the ARISE 2025 Conclave

• The award was presented at ARISE 2025, a national-level conclave organized by HTA In at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi.
• The event brought together more than 35 leading medical colleges and ICMR institutes actively involved in HTA work across the country.
• The honour was jointly presented by Prof V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, and Dr Rajiv Bahl, Director-General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Secretary, Department of Health Research (DHR).

Why PGIMER Was Selected

• PGIMER’s leadership in HTA is anchored in its HTA Resource Hub, located within the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health.
• This hub was established by the Department of Health Research to strengthen HTA capacity in India.
• The centre is led by Prof Shankar Prinja, Professor of Health Economics, who has played a key role in promoting evidence-informed decision-making at both national and state levels.
• PGIMER had earlier received the same recognition at the ICMR–DHR Health Summit last year, making this a back-to-back national honour.

Significance of the Award

This recognition is important because it underlines the increasing role of HTA in India’s health reforms. HTA findings are now directly used in major policy decisions, especially in large public health programmes.

According to experts at the conclave, HTA has helped the government in,

• Designing reimbursement rates under Ayushman Bharat–PMJAY
• Ensuring value-based procurement of medical devices
• Supporting transparent and rational coverage decisions
• Improving efficiency and equity in healthcare spending

These outcomes show how research institutions like PGIMER influence real-world governance.

Key Takeaways

• PGIMER Chandigarh won India’s Best HTA Institute award for the second consecutive year.
• The award was given at ARISE 2025, organized by HTA In under MoHFW.
• Health Technology Assessment helps in making healthcare policies cost-effective, transparent, and equitable.
• HTA supports major schemes like Ayushman Bharat–PMJAY.
• The recognition highlights India’s shift towards evidence-based health policymaking.

Question

Q. PGIMER, Chandigarh was awarded India’s Best Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Institute for the second consecutive year by which ministry?

A. Ministry of Science & Technology
B. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
C. Ministry of Social Justice
D. Ministry of Education