The George Institute for Global Health, India organised its annual Evidence2Policy (e2p) dialogue today in New Delhi. Each year, The George Institute hosts this dialogue to spark a conversation around bridging the “know-do gap” in public health policy implementation.
This year’s Evidence2Policy dialogue aimed to strengthen the bridge between research evidence and policymaking, reflecting The George Institute’s collective commitment to advancing health equity and system reform in India.
Held at a time when NCDs account for over 65% of deaths in India, the dialogue convened leaders from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Chhattisgarh State Health System Resource Centre, state governments, academia, research funders and civil society. Together with researchers from The George Institute they explored how research evidence can be translated into sustainable, scalable policy actions.
“The future of public health will be shaped by how effectively we can translate evidence into action. E2P serves as a critical platform for shared learning, innovation, and policy engagement—ensuring that research does not remain on paper but drives sustainable, evidence-informed decision-making at every level,” Dr Vivekanand Jha, Executive Director, The George Institute for Global Health, India.
The reflective session highlighted the government’s expectations on evidence generation, integration, and utilisation for improved NCD prevention and care. Senior officials underscored the importance of data-driven decision-making, equity-oriented health policies, and strengthening health systems to ensure universal access without financial hardship.
Dr. Thomas Keppen, Nagaland – Deputy Director, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland, said, “Our experience in Nagaland shows that when communities are truly involved, health systems become stronger, more accountable, and more responsive to local needs. Community participation has helped improve infrastructure, service delivery, and health awareness, even in remote regions where challenges are many. We have seen that empowering local leaders and women to take part in planning and monitoring creates ownership and lasting change. Strengthening community-based approaches and documenting progress regularly can make our systems more transparent and sustainable. Collaboration and continued dialogue are key to ensuring that these efforts translate into real health gains for the people.”
Dr. Vikash R Keshri, Associate Professor, Jindal School of Public Health & Ex-Executive Director, Chhattisgarh State Health Resource Centre, said, “In India, NCD policy is blind to gender. By relying on overall numbers and ignoring disaggregated data, our policies are failing to address the fundamental, specific barriers women face in getting equitable health care.”
Dr. Sumit Malhotra, Professor, Centre for Community Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi, said, “Equity in NCD care is not only about women, it is also about reaching men and every section of the community. When healthcare is taken closer to people, women come forward to seek care, but we must also find ways to engage men. Strengthening community health workers, ensuring regular medicine supplies, and improving linkages between different levels of care can make our health system more responsive and fair.”
Inika Sharma, Research Officer at The George Institute for Global Health, India, presented a global equity-oriented policy analysis of integrated plans for the prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases. The analysis found that while most national NCD plans acknowledge gender, few adopt fully gender-responsive approaches. She emphasised the need to embed equity principles and gender considerations across all policy domains to ensure fair and effective health outcomes.
The Fire Side Chat on Gender Equity in Health Systems and Research focused on the need to bring equity into every stage of health policy and research, from design to implementation. The panelists reflected on who is being left behind and how researchers, policymakers, and communities can work together to close these gaps. They emphasised that research should move beyond data and publications to drive real change through collaboration and community-led action.
Dr Devaki Nambiar, Program Director, Health Equity, Health Systems Science, The George Institute for Global Health and the moderator of the fire side chat said, “Evidence to Policy is a winding road! There are many twists and turns – even roadblocks – which require more than just knowledge and science to traverse. We are grateful for the trust and patience of government officials in a number of Indian states where we are jointly navigating our way to tailor knowledge for system and service reform. As researchers, we can make sure that government actors have chances to journey on such paths alongside service users, nonusers and civil society.”
The dialogue also featured a Youth Ideas Showcase spotlighting emerging voices from The George Institute. It brought forward powerful, solutions-driven ideas that reimagined equity in health. Young researchers presented bold approaches ranging from protecting pregnant women during heatwaves to strengthening the mental wellbeing of community health workers. They shared innovative models like Sakhi Circles, where women living with NCDs turn everyday conversations into networks of care, and Manthan, a peer-led initiative that promotes mental health among transgender communities. Each idea reflected the creativity, empathy, and commitment of a new generation determined to make health systems more inclusive, people-centred, and prepared for the challenges ahead.
The session closed with a reflection on how shared understanding can create a moral responsibility for collective action to reduce preventable suffering and ensure that all communities benefit equally from health system advances.