Value-based Medicine: The 3rd Cochrane India Conclave at AIIMS, Rishikesh, India

INTRODUCTION Value-based medicine (VBM) is a transformative approach in health care that prioritises patient outcomes relative to costs. Unlike traditional models, VBM incentivises high-quality, efficient and patient-centred care. This approach integrates clinical expertise with the latest evidence, ensuring optimal patient outcomes while maintaining cost-effectiveness and equity in care. The conclave was organised by AIIMS Rishikesh in collaboration with The Cochrane India Network, Campbell South Asia, under the aegis of the Centre for Evidence Synthesis and Public Policy, Central Library AIIMS Rishikesh. The AIIMS Rishikesh Digital Academy facilitated virtual engagement for broader participation. The event was tailored for healthcare professionals, academicians, researchers, policymakers and students interested in evidence-based medicine, systematic reviews and public health policy. DAY 1: PRECONFERENCE WORKSHOPS The 1st day of the conclave was dedicated towards enhancing the participants’ knowledge of evidence synthesis, evidence generation and dissemination. The event, inaugurated by Prof. Meenu Singh and Dr. Anju Sinha (being Co-Chairs of the Cochrane India Network), was marked by interactive sessions, preconference workshops and discussions led by national and international experts. A total of 241 participants attended day 1 of the event. The conclave aimed to empower participants with practical skills to enhance evidence-based healthcare practices in India. It also provided a platform for networking and collaboration among healthcare professionals, researchers and policymakers. Main highlights The hands-on workshops were the central highlight, offering valuable insights into the methodologies of systematic reviews and evidence synthesis. In addition, participants explored the significance of evidence and gap maps in public health research and were introduced to the PICO framework for developing research questions. These sessions were instrumental in equipping attendees with practical skills to enhance healthcare decision-making in their respective fields. Preconference workshop topics and resource persons: Eight specialised preconference workshops were held covering: Cochrane protocol development: Participants learned about systematic review registration, framing research questions using the PICO model, literature searches, risk of bias assessments and the GRADE approach for evidence evaluation Systematic reviews and meta-analysis: This workshop provided in-depth training on selecting research questions, conducting literature searches, performing meta-analysis using RevMan and interpreting meta-analytic models Medical database and literature searching: Attendees gained hands-on experience in using Boolean operators, MeSH terms and advanced search techniques for systematic literature reviews Data management and analysis: Aimed at equipping participants with statistical tools such as STATA, Stata Corp LLC and RevMan, Cochrane; for quantitative analysis, data extraction and risk of bias assessment Evidence and gap maps: Focused on using evidence gap maps to visualise research gaps and areas needing further investigation Systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy (DTA): Covered key aspects of evaluating DTA, including QUADAS-2 risk of bias assessments and meta-analysis techniques Evidence synthesis in nutrition: Provided insights into synthesising evidence in nutrition-related studies, covering statistical approaches and critical appraisal of studies Health technology assessment and guideline development: Introduced methods for assessing medical technologies, economic evaluation and evidence-based guideline formulation. DAY 2: MAIN CONFERENCE The main Conference held on 27th October 2024 continued the momentum, focusing on the future of evidence-based healthcare, precision medicine and the evolving role of the Cochrane collaboration in research. The conference was inaugurated by Prof. Durgesh Pant, Director General of Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology, and featured a diverse group of experts from India and abroad. A total of 286 participants attended the Inaugural Session; the conference commenced with a welcome address and the introduction of the Cochrane India Network Directors, who presented the ongoing activities of the Cochrane India Affiliate Centres [Figure 1]. These directors shared valuable insights into the initiatives of their respective institutions: Dr. Sumit Malhotra (AIIMS New Delhi), Dr. Mohan S Kamath (CMC Vellore), Dr. G. V. S. Murthy (PRASHO Hyderabad), Dr. Neeta Mohanty (IDS Bhubaneswar), Dr. Balendra Pratap Singh (KGMU Lucknow), Dr. Ravindra Prabhu A (MAHE Manipal) and Dr. Tejpal Gupta (TMC Mumbai). The session was chaired by Prof. Meenu Singh (AIIMS Rishikesh), with Dr. Anju Sinha (ICMR) serving as Co-Chair.Figure 1: Inaugural SessionDr. David Sackett Oration: The Dr. David Sackett Oration on the ‘Future Implementation of Precision Medicine in the UK’ by Prof. Somnath Mukhopadhyay (Chair in Pediatrics at Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, United Kingdom) was the key event of the day. The oration delved into the advancements in precision medicine and its potential impact on healthcare outcomes globally. Prof. K. K. Talwar and Prof. Jaya Chaturvedi chaired the session. International Speakers: A critical session explored the changing structure of Cochrane with speaker Tiffany Gust Duque (Senior Officer, Geographic Groups); the session highlighted the need for continuous adaptation of Cochrane’s methods to meet the demands of modern healthcare challenges. Dr. Karla Soares-Weiser (Editor-in-Chief, Cochrane Library) and Toby Lasserson (Deputy Editor in Chief Cochrane Library) shared their views on adoption of Cochrane review in policy decision-making. The evolving role of AI in evidence generation and its potential for improving healthcare research and decision-making by Dr. Patrick Stover and Dr. Amanda MacFarlane from the Texas A&M Institute for Advancing Health through Agriculture, USA. The conference also explored VBM, with a keynote address by Prof. Sir Muir Gray (Director Optimal Ageing Programme Oxford, United Kingdom), who emphasised the importance of value-based approaches in clinical decision-making. This session focused on integrating evidence-based practices into everyday clinical work to improve patient outcomes. The Session on Evidence and Gap Maps was delivered by Dr. Howard White (Advisor, Campbell South Asia) on how evidence maps can identify research gaps and guide policy decisions, making it a valuable tool for healthcare stakeholders. Panel discussion A panel discussion on the usefulness of Cochrane in addressing health priorities in India provided insights into how Cochrane’s systematic reviews and evidence synthesis can inform national healthcare policies. Experts from various institutions shared their experiences and thoughts on the role of Cochrane in advancing public health priorities in India. Summary The conference concluded with a summary of key learnings, recognition of outstanding research contributions and closing remarks by the organising committee. Day 1: The 3rd Cochrane India Conclave successfully laid the groundwork for advancing evidence-based healthcare in India. Participants left with enhanced skills in evidence synthesis, systematic reviews and advanced data management, all crucial for improving healthcare practices in the country. Day 2: The Cochrane India Network Conference concluded with engaging discussions on the role of AI in healthcare research, precision medicine and the adoption of Cochrane reviews in policy decision-making. It provided a comprehensive platform for healthcare professionals, researchers and policymakers to collaborate and discuss the future of evidence-based healthcare in India. Oral/poster presentation sessions, awards and credit hours for the workshop The conclave featured engaging oral and poster presentations, showcasing cutting-edge research and innovative findings. Recognition was given to outstanding contributions through awards in multiple categories, including poster, oral presentation, short essay writing on evidence-based medicine and slogan writing competition. Participants demonstrated scientific rigor, creativity and impactful insights that enriched the event. Although no credit hours were provided for the workshops. Highlights on technological trends The preconference session covered crucial advancements in medical research methodologies, including Cochrane Protocol Development, Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis, Medical Database Searching, Data Management and Analysis, Evidence and Gap Maps, DTA Reviews, Evidence Synthesis in Nutrition and Health Technology Assessment and Guideline Development. These workshops introduced participants to emerging technologies such as RevMan, STATA, GRADE and QUADAS-2, equipping them with essential tools for evidence-based research. Beyond academic and research-oriented discussions. Networking opportunities The conclave fostered networking opportunities, bringing together healthcare professionals, academicians, researchers, policymakers and students committed to advancing evidence-based medicine and public health policy. Declaration of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process Perplexity, ChatGPT and Grammarly were used for plagiarism, grammar checking and refining the content. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.