Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel inaugurated the first National Public Health India Conference (NPHICON-2024) in the presence of Dr. V. K. Paul, Member NITI Aayog, here today. This three-day long conference is being organized from 23^rd to 25^th February 2024 by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) under the Directorate General of Health Services.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof S P Singh Baghel highlighted the significance of the conference in advancing public health discourse and in formulating policies aligned with Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision for Viksit Bharat. The minister commended NCDC for its leadership and dedication in organizing this pivotal event that will contribute to the development of resilient health policies and interventions.

Prof. Baghel said, “At the heart of our vision for India's development is the recognition that health is not merely the absence of disease, but a fundamental human right and the cornerstone of sustainable development. A healthy population is not only more productive but also more resilient in the face of adverse conditions. It is therefore imperative that we prioritize health as a central tenet of our development agenda”.

The Union Minister stated that “with a large population, rapid urbanization and increasing health care needs, the challenges are immense. However, amidst these challenges lie unique opportunities to innovate, collaborate, and pave the way towards a healthier and more prosperous future for all”.

He also said that the conference will provide a common platform for exchaning experiences and best practices on public health concerns and relevant allied health practices in the country.

Dr. V.K. Paul applauded the NCDC for working tirelessly to contain the spread of Covid-19 during the pandemic. He said that India has to rely on its strong network of health centres especially Aushman Arogya Mandir to strengthen the health systems. He urged researchers to stick to good methodologies for research so that future health emergencies can be tackled with ease.

Sh. Apurva Chandra, Union Health Secretary conveyed a message acknowledging the importance of NPHICON 2024 in providing a forum for sharing experiences and best practices at the local level. He underscored the role of the conference in supporting policy development and interventions for the advancement of public health. He also extended his best wishes to NCDC and all participants for a successful and impactful conference.

Prof. Atul Goel, Director General of Health Services (DGHS), commended NCDC for organizing NPHICON 2024 and bringing together national experts, program implementers, and students. Dr Goel emphasized the collaborative nature of the conference, fostering innovative solutions and contributing to the larger goal of building a resilient and healthy nation.

Dr Roderico H. Ofrin, WHO Representative to India, emphasized that India has the potential to become a global leader in expanding programs and resources for access to medical countermeasures, global health security preparedness and response, and digital health. “It is crucial to highlight and showcase the best practices and initiatives in the realm of public health”, he stated.

During the occasion, a revamped NCDC website, a new E-Journal of NCDC, Epi-Dis-Phere Public Health Resilience and E-Techno-doc comprising of oral and poster abstracts of presentations to be done at NCDC was also launched.

Background

The National Public Health India Conference is a national-level initiative aimed at creating a collaborative learning platform for health professionals to share experiences and best practices. The conference focuses on the insights of health policymakers and implementers, contributing to effective public health program management. It highlights innovative approaches in addressing health priorities such as NCDs, Tuberculosis, and infrastructure strengthening, emphasizing collaboration for one health, including aspects of zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, environment, and climate change. The event also explores the application of advanced tools and technologies, such as Integrated Health Information Platform, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning in public health surveillance.

There will be seven scientific sessions focusing on Recent Public Health Initiatives in India; Advance Tools & Technologies for Public Health Surveillance and Response; one health; disease elimination; Implementation of International Health Regulations in India; Research Integrity and Ethics in Research and Current Curriculum in Medical Education to Public Health Implementation in India –Barriers and Opportunities.

This conference highlights innovative approaches and efforts in successfully implementing the recent health initiatives prioritized at various levels in the country like NCDs, Tuberculosis, and infrastructure strengthening in the primary health facilities and aspirational blocks for health improvement. It also highlights ways to collaborate for multi sectoral approaches towards one health with special reference to zoonotic diseases, anti-microbial resistance, environment and climate change. The insights into ethics in research, the application of the latest advance tools and technologies in the management of huge data and its analysis brought out the relevance of these areas for evidence based health policy driven interventions especially during crisis.

The experts will deliberate on barriers and opportunities in current medical curriculum application to public health to bridge the gap between medical and public health professionals. More than 100 oral and poster presentations will be made by public health professionals from 30 states and UTs of India.

Smt. LS Changsan, Additional Secretary & Mission Director (NHM), Health Ministry; Senior officials of the Union Health Ministry, delegates & experts from State Public Health Programmes, professionals, post graduate medical students and key stakeholders were present on the occasion.

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