BHU workshop evaluates healthcare cost-effectiveness and technologies

A workshop on "Systematic Review, Cost-Effectiveness, and Meta-Analysis" took place at Banaras Hindu University. The two-day event was organized by Health Technology Assessment India and aimed to evaluate health technologies for their effectiveness and cost-efficiency. Dr. Manoj Pandey led the workshop at the Department of Molecular Biology. He explained that this initiative helps policymakers understand the impact and safety of health technologies, making healthcare more affordable and accessible. The workshop was inaugurated by Daya Shankar Mishra Dayalu, the UP AYUSH minister. He stressed the government's commitment to ensuring high-quality healthcare is available to all. During his speech, Mishra noted the importance of using cost-effectiveness studies. He mentioned how these studies could help provide better treatments to more people without increasing expenses. He emphasized the integration of traditional medicine like ayurveda with modern practices and highlighted the global recognition of yoga. Dr. S.N. Sankhwar, the Director of the Institute, shared that valuable research contributions had been made in the past two years. One study showed that robotic surgery for prostate cancer is more effective than conventional methods. Although it is more expensive, he recommends the government adopt this technology. Another finding indicated that HPV screening is preferred over visual inspections for cervical cancer, suggesting it is a more effective option. The workshop featured hands-on training sessions and included various experts from health research and epidemiology. Dr. Atindra Kumar Pandey noted that 52 participants attended on-site, while 86 joined online from various institutions across the country. The program aimed to equip the next generation of healthcare professionals with essential skills.