AFMC’s Inter-Command CME Highlights Role of Evidence-Based Medicine in Health Systems
Pune, 22nd April 2025: AFMC Pune hosted an inter command CME on Evidence Synthesis for Health Research: Systematic Reviews & Meta Analyses on the 21st and 22nd of April 2025. The event aimed to advance healthcare research methodologies by integrating evidence-based approaches into health policies and practices.
The CME featured distinguished speakers and experts from leading healthcare and research institutions and luminaries from the field of Public Health, focusing on the crucial role played by Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalyses (SRMA) in strengthening health systems, optimizing healthcare delivery, and informing policy decisions.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Lt Gen Pankaj P Rao, Director & Commandant, AFMC. The welcome address was given by Brig Kunal Chatterjee, HoD, Dept of Community Medicine, AFMC. The second day of the event was graced by the guest of honour, DGAFMS Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, AVSM, VSM who stressed on importance of Health Technology Assessment in the present day scenario and especially for the AFMS. The DGAFMS also released the E-souvenir of the event.
The two-day program commenced with a keynote address by Dr Ashoo Grover, Deputy Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research. She delivered an enlightening talk on the importance of transparency in data sharing.
The event featured a series of engaging and insightful plenary sessions that delved into key and impactful themes like Optimising Healthcare through Evidence-Based Medicine. The program also included a panel discussion focused on integrating Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (SRMA) into health research, that had eminent researchers as the panelists.
The scientific sessions were an academic feast, offering deep insights into a range of pertinent topics such as evidence based approaches to combat casualty care, its critical application in health research. A standout session titled Strengthening Trust in Evidence Synthesis and Revolutionizing Systematic Reviews shed light on the transformative role of artificial intelligence in evidence synthesis. An intellectually stimulating talk was delivered by Dr. Prathap Tharyan, Professor at CMC Vellore addressing common challenges encountered in conducting Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (SRMA).
The program offered a diverse mix of scientific sessions, panel discussions, and hands on workshops on the Health Technology Assessment, Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses aimed at equipping participants with the essential skills for conducting robust and high-quality evidence synthesis research. An essay writing and logo designing competition was conducted for the under graduate students that garnered enthusiastic participation from medical cadets.
On the second day the proceedings were finally concluded by a valedictory session and prize distribution. The CME proved to be a vibrant confluence of knowledge, skill-building, and collaborative exchange, reinforcing the pivotal role of evidence synthesis in modern healthcare. With enthusiastic participation and thought-provoking discourse, the event successfully set the stage for future advancements in evidence-based research and policy-making within the health system.
