The researchers from PGIMER, Chandigarh, India, showcased their excellence at the recently concluded 14th International Priorities Conference 2024 held in Thailand from 8th to 10th May. Amongst a plethora of over 200 research presentations, Dr. Yashika Chugh and Dr. Jyoti Dixit received the overall first and third prize for their outstanding research work.  With over 350 participants from 44 countries worldwide; the Priorities 2024 Conference is a global forum for sharing the latest knowledge and insights in the field of health economics and cost-effectiveness analysis particularly benefiting researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders from low- and middle-income countries worldwide.
Dr. Yashika Chugh, a research scholar at the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, was awarded the Best Oral Presentation for her research work on "Estimation for Cost-effectiveness Threshold for India". This national level study which is funded by the Department of Health Research, led by Dr. Shankar Prinja, Professor of Health Economics at PGI, has been conducted in over 6 Indian states; including Haryana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Meghalaya in collaboration with prominent Indian institutes. The PGI study, which stands as the world's largest of its kind, is part of the various research undertaken by the Regional Health Technology Assessment Resource centre established at PGI with a grant-in-aid from the Central Government. Prof. Prinja emphasized the significant policy implications of the findings of this study, which will help to guide sustainable resource allocation decisions in healthcare, thereby ensuring optimal utilization of limited resources and enhancing public spending in health.
Dr. Jyoti Dixit, who secured the 2nd Runner-up position at the conference, presented her research on "An Extended Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Prevention and Control Strategies for Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease in India." This study is the first from India to demonstrate how the program for control of Rheumatic fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease can be organised at community level; and demonstrated that how such interventions for prevention and control of heart disease can benefit the poor and the most vulnerable sections to obtain health care, and also reduce health care expenditures.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Prinja also informed that this is the second year in a row when the PGI health economics researchers have won accolades at this prestigious global forum which is conducted once in 2 years.

About the International Priorities Conference 2024
The 14th International Priorities Conference 2024; hosted by the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP), Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, in collaboration with The International Society for Priorities in Health (ISPH), marked its inaugural edition in Asia, held in Bangkok from May 8th to 10th. Themed "Shaping the Future of Health Prioritization: Strategies for Sustainable Solutions", the conference convened global experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to delve into diverse topics; including the usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and real-world evidence in health priority setting, early Health Technology Assessment (HTA), efficiency-fairness balance, healthcare sector's environmental impact, and crisis situation priority setting.