A study presented at the Bringing Evidence into Public Health Policy (EPHP) conference in Bengaluru reveals that it takes an average of 17 years for scientific research to be integrated into clinical practice and public policy. Dr. Ashoo Grover, a scientist at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), emphasized the urgent need for enhanced implementation research to address this delay. The conference, co-hosted by several institutions including the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, highlighted the gap between health policymaking and practice. Karnataka's Health Secretary, Rithwik Ranjanam Pandey, pointed out that despite comprehensive data collection on maternal deaths, actionable insights are often lacking. Dr. Sundari Ravindran from the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute underscored the necessity for evidence that accurately reflects real-world conditions to inform health system reforms. Additionally, an expert session discussed how external influences, known as Commercial Determinants of Health (CDoH), affect health outcomes, with factors like processed foods and tobacco marketing playing significant roles. This underscores the complex interplay between health research, policy, and external commercial forces.