The Naga Scholars’ Association (NSA), as part of its Insights Lecture Series, organised a webinar on “Evidence for Better Health: Public Health Data and Research in India and the North-East” on August 28.
The webinar featured Dr Raghunath Mandi, Proposal Development Specialist, HelpAge India Institute for Longevity and Ageing Research, New Delhi, and Jasmine Maringmei, Atlantic Fellow, Indian Institute of Public Health, Shillong, and Policy Analyst, Government of Meghalaya.
Dr Mandi provided an overview of India’s public health data ecosystem and discussed major datasets, including NFHS-6, LASI, HMIS, NSS and the Census. He highlighted geographical and financial barriers to healthcare access, particularly among older persons, and stressed the need to assess whether people “actually are getting the benefits or not” and identify those “who are left behind”.
Maringmei highlighted health data challenges in the Northeast, stressing that “better data does not necessarily mean that we need more data.” She called for disaggregated and context-sensitive evidence, noting that “absence of data is a policy problem” and “absence of data is never neutral”.
Chair Dr Khaling Ngamphundar encouraged researchers to examine who is represented in datasets and how evidence reaches policy. The Q&A covered Indigenous healing practices, nutrition, healthcare access and government schemes.
Dr Avei Vey delivered the welcome address and vote of thanks.