New Delhi, January 29, 2026: The 10th edition of the International Healthcare Conference (IHC 2026), organised as a part of Medical Fair India 2026, concluded successfully today at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, bringing together senior policymakers, global diplomats, healthcare leaders, clinicians, medical device manufacturers, and digital health experts to chart the future pathways of healthcare delivery.
The conference opened with a welcome and opening address by Dr. Nishchal Naveen, Chairman, Voice of Healthcare, and a Serial Entrepreneur.
Raja Iqbal Singh, Mayor of Delhi, stated, “It is a pleasure to be part of Medical Fair India 2026, a platform that brings together global leaders and innovators to advance accessible, affordable, and high-quality healthcare. I warmly welcome the German delegation and commend Messe Düsseldorf India Pvt. Ltd. for strengthening India–Germany collaboration in healthcare and medical technology. Delhi remains committed to promoting innovation, sustainable medical infrastructure, and global partnerships that improve the quality of life of our citizens. I wish the event great success and all delegates a productive stay in the capital.”
In his inaugural address, Dr Nischal Naveen said, “ I would like to touch upon one of the most talked-about topics today: India–EU collaboration. This partnership is expected to have a very positive impact on the healthcare ecosystem, particularly in the areas of medical devices and healthcare technology. Innovation is happening every moment, every day. Reflecting on my journey as a physician, I have witnessed significant change from the time I entered medical school to today. Technology has now penetrated every field of healthcare, and nothing is complete without it. Artificial intelligence, in particular, is showing tremendous potential. Together we must push innovation and integration further to create meaningful impact.”
The inaugural session featured distinguished addresses by Rajiv Nath, Managing Director, Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices Ltd.; Vincent Lin, Director, Taipei World Trade Center (TAITRA); Alka Sharma, Additional Director General, ICMR; Sheilabai Bappoo, High Commissioner of the Republic of Mauritius; Christian Zaum, Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs, City of Düsseldorf; Lakshmendra Geshan Dissanayake, Minister Counsellor, High Commission of Sri Lanka; and Dr. Mumin Chen, Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India. The discussion highlighted the growing focus on lifestyle disease–centred centres of excellence, the adoption of precision and personalised medicine, emerging opportunities in medical value travel, and the increasing role of accreditation and quality benchmarks in building globally competitive healthcare institutions.
During her Guest of Honour address, Dr. Alka Sharma, Additional Director General, Extramural Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, stated, “ICMR plays a key role in supporting and strengthening India’s biomedical and health research ecosystem through evidence-based policy, national initiatives and global collaborations. By promoting academia–industry partnerships and translational research, we aim to bridge innovation gaps and improve access to new drugs, technologies and medical devices aligned with national health priorities.”
Session “Leadership Perspectives on Future-Ready Hospitals & Healthcare Delivery” brought together hospital leaders and clinicians to discuss future-ready hospitals, outcome-driven care models, centres of excellence, medical value travel, and the role of accreditation and quality in building globally competitive healthcare institutions. The session featured Dr. Kapil Mohan; Dr. Jun-Neng Roan; Cdr. Navneet Bali; Dr. Rakesh Gupta; Dr. Amandeep Kaur and Dr Sunny Garg.
A Special Spotlight Session on "Thalassemia Care Continuum: Prevention, Advanced Management & Policy Readiness" highlighted advancements in prevention, screening, modern therapies, and the critical importance of safe and regulated blood transfusion practices, with perspectives from clinicians, policymakers, and patient advocacy leaders. The session featured Dr. Vinita Srivastava, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (GOI); Shobha Tuli, Secretary, Thalassemics India; Dr. Sangeeta Pahuja Sindhwani; Dr. Dinesh Pendharkar; Dr. Ritika Sud; and Dr. Manas Kalra.
Dr. Vinita Srivastava, NHA , Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (GOI) said, “Our work with the government began in 2010 to provide free blood for patients with thalassemia, sickle cell disease and hemophilia, leading to the formulation of national guidelines for hemoglobinopathies in 2016. These comprehensive guidelines focus on prevention, management and treatment and have been widely adopted by states. Initiatives like the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana have significantly reduced the cost of bone marrow transplants, while strengthened screening and awareness efforts continue to support early detection and better patient outcomes.”
The session titled “Medical Devices: Building Capability, Access & Global Trust” featured insights from Mr. Rajiv Nath; Dr. Hui-Chen Su, Director, International Medical Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital and Attending Neurologist, Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital; Dr. Heena Shaikh, Head- Public Health Advocacy, Tricog Health; Dr. Vibhav Garg, President-Global Govt Affairs, Meril Group of Companies, New Delhi; and Dr. Rajiv Chhibber, Vice President - External Affairs, Sahajanand Medical Technologies. Ltd.
Sessions focused on the structural backbone of healthcare transformation, covering digital health, workforce evolution, and system resilience. Conversations examined "Digital Health & Interoperability: Building the Healthcare Backbone," highlighting AI-led solutions, integrated data ecosystems, cybersecurity, and scalable, patient-centric platforms. The evolving leadership role of nursing professionals was also spotlighted, with emphasis on "Nursing – The Future of Care Delivery & Leadership." Additionally, the discussions addressed "Future-Ready Healthcare Workforce: Skilling, Capacity Building & Human Capital Transformation."
Dr. Shubnum Singh, Principal Advisor, Healthcare CII, Governing Board Member & Advisor Health Sector Skills Council, Former Governing Board Member Life Sciences Sector Skills Council, said, “ At CII, our focus is on building skills aligned with industry needs, recognising healthcare as a critical pillar of the ecosystem. COVID underscored the importance of healthcare beyond hospitals and into communities. Through policy engagement, digital infrastructure and AI-led initiatives, we are working to support skilling, enable task shifting and roll out community-level solutions that citizens across the country can access.”
Senior leaders from hospitals, academic institutions, skill councils, and digital health organisations shared insights on strengthening system resilience and improving care delivery outcomes.
The conference concluded with closing remarks reaffirming IHC’s role as a strategic platform for cross-border dialogue, policy insight, and industry collaboration, as India continues to strengthen its position as a trusted global healthcare partner.
With participation from leading healthcare institutions, policymakers, clinicians, and industry leaders, the 10th International Healthcare Conference marked a decade of impact and set the agenda for the next phase of healthcare innovation and integration.