“Public health policies can become significantly more effective when grounded in robust evidence, while the absence or misinterpretation of data can lead to misguided decisions,” said Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey, Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka.

He was addressing participants at the inauguration of the fifth edition of the ‘Bringing Evidence to Public Health Policy (EPHP)’ conference organised by Institute of Public Health Bengaluru (IPH Bengaluru), in collaboration with The George Institute for Global Health (GIGH) India, and the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) Antwerp, with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB).

Drawing from his experience in the Health Department, he shared examples from tuberculosis control and maternal mortality surveillance to illustrate how assumptions unsupported by data can lead policymakers away from the real causes of public health challenges.

Referring to a review of tuberculosis mortality in Karnataka, he described how commonly cited explanations, such as migration and alcohol use, were not supported by available programme data.  

He highlighted how analysis of maternal mortality data revealed limitations in current reporting systems, emphasising the need for better-quality data, and deeper investigation of underlying causes rather than relying solely on immediate clinical outcomes.

Mr Pandey urged participants to use the conference as an opportunity to generate actionable evidence and practical solutions, noting that stronger research-policy partnerships can help governments make more informed decisions and improve public health outcomes.

Arnab Mukherji, Professor at the Centre for Public Policy, IIM Bangalore, reflected on the institution’s longstanding engagement with public policy and health-related research. He highlighted the emergence of new initiatives focused on health systems and public policy, and underscored the importance of engaging a broad range of stakeholders, including the private sector, to improve health outcomes.

Dr. Ashoo Grover, Scientist-G and Head, Division of Delivery and Implementation Research, ICMR highlighted the importance of implementation research in bridging the persistent gap between evidence generation and policy adoption. She outlined ICMR’s efforts to institutionalise implementation research and strengthen research ecosystems to ensure that scientific evidence effectively informs health programmes and policies.

The three-day conference focuses on the theme of future-focused health systems, and features plenary sessions, panel discussions, and workshops. Nearly 300 participants, including researchers, policymakers, and clinicians, are participating in the conference. The panel discussions will explore implementation research, evidence-informed policymaking, health systems strengthening, and digital health innovations.