By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : September 09, 2026 6:04 pm
The discussion held in Delhi examined how India can bridge the gap between evidence generation and implementation
India needs to move beyond generating and publishing health research and focus more strongly on translating evidence into better patient outcomes, stronger health systems and policies that address community needs, experts said at the BMJ Research Forum South Asia 2026.
Held in New Delhi under the theme “Driving Real-World Impact from Health Research in India,” the Forum brought together researchers, clinicians, healthcare leaders, policymakers, editors, funders and community representatives to examine how India can bridge the gap between evidence generation and implementation.
The discussions centred on a fundamental question: what changes because of the research being conducted?
The Forum opened with a keynote by Major General (Prof) Dr Atul Kotwal, followed by a leadership perspective from Dr B S Ajaikumar, Founder and Chairman of HealthCare Global Enterprises.
A flagship session on translating research into practice, moderated by Dr Vikram Datta, Director Professor and Medical Superintendent, Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, brought together Lt Gen Dr Madhuri Kanitkar, Dr Arun Singh, Dr Pramod Garg and Dr B Unnikrishnan.
“For a young researcher, it is important to understand national frameworks and guidelines, but equally important to understand what happens at the point of care. The question we should be asking is not only whether we have done good research, but how that research will reach the community and the setting for which it was intended,” Dr Datta said.
Lt Gen Dr Madhuri Kanitkar, Former Vice-Chancellor, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, said India’s scale gives it an opportunity to make a significant contribution to global health research.
“India contributes to nearly a sixth of the world’s population. Strengthening our contribution to health research could have a significant impact, not only in India but on health systems globally,” she said, pointing to India’s achievements in vaccines and generic medicines and its progress in areas such as cell and gene therapy.
She also emphasised the need for closer collaboration between researchers, policymakers, healthcare institutions and other stakeholders to ensure that research translates into solutions that work in real-world settings.
The Forum also examined how India’s expanding health and research infrastructure could support this transition. Discussions referenced initiatives including the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, PM-ABHIM, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and One Nation One Subscription, while highlighting the need to connect these platforms and investments with research that can be implemented effectively.
Another key theme was ensuring that health research reflects the needs of the populations it is intended to serve. A community voice panel chaired by Dr B S Garg, Secretary, Kasturba Health Society and Director, Dr Sushila Nayar School of Public Health, focused on quality, equity and access, particularly among vulnerable and marginalised communities.
“Health research has to respond to the priorities of the people it is meant to serve. There are significant questions around quality, equity and out-of-pocket expenditure, particularly for vulnerable and marginalised communities in peri-urban, rural and tribal areas,” Dr Garg said.
The Forum also addressed the changing research environment, including the growing role of artificial intelligence, research integrity and India’s global research credibility. Speakers stressed the importance of governance, transparency and rigorous evidence as AI and other technologies reshape the way research is designed, conducted and communicated.
Participants also called for research capacity to be expanded beyond leading institutions to tier 2 and tier 3 cities, alongside greater collaboration across sectors and geographies.
The discussions identified several priorities for India’s health research ecosystem, including greater emphasis on patient outcomes, implementation research, wider research capacity, early engagement with policymakers and communities, stronger research integrity and responsible use of AI. Participants also highlighted the need for dedicated mechanisms to support the movement of research findings from publication into clinical and public health practice.
The focus on translating evidence into measurable healthcare outcomes was also reflected in the BMJ Awards South Asia 2026, held alongside the Research Forum. The awards recognised individuals and teams working across areas including sustainability, quality improvement, digital innovation, primary care, maternal and child health, medical education and research.
The Research Paper of the Year awards recognised studies including the YCMAP intervention among adolescents after self-harm in Pakistan, published in The BMJ, and research assessing the impact of India’s indigenous Rotavac rotavirus vaccine in the Universal Immunization Programme during 2016–2020, published in Nature Medicine.
Dr Prashant Mishra, Managing Director, BMJ India & South Asia, said the Research Forum, Medical Education Leadership Round Table and BMJ South Asia Awards together represent three dimensions of healthcare progress: research with real-world impact, development of future healthcare capabilities and recognition of existing contributions to the sector.
“Together, these initiatives reflect BMJ’s commitment to putting evidence, learning and professional excellence at the heart of better healthcare and helping shape a healthier India for 2030 and beyond,” he said.