On the occasion of India’s 77th Republic Day, the Government of India announced the Padma Awards 2026, honouring individuals whose work has created lasting impact across diverse fields, including medicine. Based on the official list released by the Ministry of Home Affairs and approved by the President of India, this year’s honours recognise doctors and healthcare contributors whose dedication spans clinical excellence, medical research, community service, and patient welfare.
From recipients of the Padma Bhushan to those awarded the Padma Shri, these medical professionals exemplify service, innovation, and commitment to strengthening India’s healthcare ecosystem.
Field: Medicine (Gastroenterology) | State: Tamil Nadu
Dr. Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy is a renowned gastroenterologist, academician, and writer with decades of contribution to clinical care and medical education in India. A Senior Consultant at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, he played a pivotal role in establishing the Department of Gastroenterology at Stanley Medical College. A former President of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology, he has served on key academic boards and represented India in international academic exchanges. A Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Glasgow, he received the Padma Shri in 2007. The Padma Bhushan 2026 honours his lifelong impact on gastroenterology
Field: Medicine (Radiation Oncology) | Country: United States of America
Dr. Nori Dattatreyudu is a globally acclaimed radiation oncologist whose pioneering work has transformed cancer treatment, particularly in women’s cancers. Born in Andhra Pradesh and trained at Kurnool Medical College and Osmania University, he went on to build a distinguished career in the United States. A leader in modern brachytherapy techniques, he advanced remote after-loading brachytherapy, enabling precise radiation delivery while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Former Chairman of Radiation Oncology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, he received the Padma Shri in 2015. The Padma Bhushan 2026 recognises his lasting global impact on oncology and patient care.
Field: Medicine (Neonatology) | State: Maharashtra
Dr. Armida Fernandez is a pioneering neonatologist best known for establishing Asia’s first human milk bank in Mumbai in 1989, a landmark contribution to newborn care in India. Born in Dharwad and trained at KEM Hospital, Mumbai, she served as Head of Neonatology and Dean at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, Sion, where thousands of vulnerable infants benefit annually from donor human milk. A co-founder of the Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action (SNEHA), her work has focused on neonatal care, child nutrition, and maternal health. A long-time advocate of breastfeeding and UNICEF’s Baby-Friendly Initiative, her Padma Shri 2026 honours a lifetime of service to infant health.
Field: Medicine (Gastroenterology) | State: Telangana
Dr. Guduru Venkat Rao is a distinguished gastroenterologist whose clinical expertise and surgical innovation have significantly advanced minimally invasive gastrointestinal care in India. Associated with AIG Hospitals, Telangana, he has performed over 12,000 surgeries and 16,000 endoscopic procedures during his career. He is notably the first to perform a transoral endoscopic appendectomy, marking a major milestone in endoscopic surgery. Beyond gastroenterology, his work has also contributed to the development of a macro-encapsulation device aimed at improving diabetes management. The Padma Shri 2026 recognises his exceptional surgical skill, pioneering spirit, and commitment to advancing patient-centric medical innovation.
Field: Medicine | State: Tamil Nadu
Dr. H. V. Hande is an eminent physician, public servant, writer, and public intellectual whose distinguished career spans medicine, governance, and literature. A graduate of Kilpauk Medical College (1950), he founded Hande Hospital in Chennai in 1984, contributing significantly to patient care in Tamil Nadu. A five-time legislator and two-term Health Minister of Tamil Nadu, he played a key role in shaping public health policy. A participant in the Quit India Movement, he was closely associated with leaders such as C. Rajagopalachari and M. G. Ramachandran. Beyond medicine and politics, he has authored books on the Ramayana and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The Padma Shri 2026 honours his lifelong service to society.
Field: Medicine (Ayurveda) | State: Uttar Pradesh
Dr. Kewal Krishan Thakral is an eminent Ayurvedic surgeon recognised for his six decades of dedicated service to Shalya Shalakya, the surgical discipline of Ayurveda. A pioneer of the Karna Vedhan technique for asthma management, he has made lasting contributions to integrative and traditional medical practice. Born in 1938, he served as Dean of Kanpur University and as Director of Ayurveda and Unani Services, Uttar Pradesh, while also guiding doctoral research scholars. His academic journey includes work as a research surgeon at the University of California, San Francisco. Through extensive social outreach via asthma, eye, and rehabilitation camps, he has taken Ayurveda to the grassroots. The Padma Shri 2026 honours his lifelong commitment to Ayurvedic science and public service.
Field: Medicine (Sowa-Rigpa) | Region: Ladakh
Dr. Padma Gurmet is a leading authority in Sowa-Rigpa, the ancient Himalayan–Tibetan system of medicine, and currently serves as Director of the National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR), Leh. Under his leadership, NISR has emerged as a premier autonomous institute under the Ministry of AYUSH, dedicated to education, research, clinical practice, and preservation of this indigenous medical system. His efforts have significantly enhanced the national and global recognition of Sowa-Rigpa through training programmes, interdisciplinary research, public health outreach, and international engagement. The Padma Shri 2026 honours his lifelong commitment to safeguarding Ladakh’s medicinal heritage and advancing holistic healthcare rooted in traditional wisdom.
Field: Medicine (Oncology) | State: Telangana
Dr. Palkonda Vijay Anand Reddy is a leading oncologist recognised for advancing precision radiation therapy and improving cancer outcomes in India. Director and Senior Consultant at Apollo Cancer Hospital, Hyderabad, he has introduced shorter, more targeted radiation protocols and innovative techniques for brain tumour treatment. An alumnus of Osmania Medical College, he holds a DNB in Radiation Oncology and has served as President of the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India and Chairman of the Indian College of Radiation Oncology. Founder of the CURE Foundation, he has expanded access to cancer care for the underprivileged. The Padma Shri 2026 honours his clinical excellence, leadership, and commitment to equitable oncology care.
Field: Medicine (Gastroenterology) | Country: United States of America
Dr. Prateek Sharma is an internationally respected gastroenterologist and academic known for his pioneering work in esophageal diseases, GERD, Barrett’s esophagus, and advanced endoscopic imaging. Born in Chandigarh, he is a Professor of Medicine and Gastroenterology Fellowship Program Director at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He currently serves as President of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Chair of the ASGE Artificial Intelligence Institute, leading global efforts to integrate AI into gastrointestinal diagnostics. A Fellow of the American College of Physicians, he received the VAIBHAV Fellowship in 2024 for advancing Indo-US collaboration in AI-driven early cancer detection. The Padma Shri 2026 recognises his global leadership in innovation-led gastroenterology.
Field: Medicine (Siddha / Ethno-Veterinary Medicine) | State: Tamil Nadu
Dr. Punniamurthy Natesan is a pioneering scientist and retired professor of Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, recognised for advancing scientific ethno-veterinary medicine. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has integrated Siddha and indigenous livestock knowledge with modern pharmacological validation, developing hundreds of herbal treatment protocols for animal health. His work has demonstrated effective alternatives to antibiotics, including formulations using aloe vera and turmeric for conditions such as mastitis, helping reduce antibiotic residues in milk. By lowering treatment costs and improving animal health outcomes, his research has strengthened rural livelihoods and promoted sustainable veterinary care. The Padma Shri 2026 honours his transformative contribution to traditional knowledge-based public health solutions.
Field: Medicine (Pulmonary & Respiratory Medicine) | State: Uttar Pradesh
Dr. Rajendra Prasad is an eminent chest physician and academic with over 45 years of distinguished service in pulmonary medicine, tuberculosis, and infectious diseases. An alumnus of K.G. Medical College, Lucknow, he has held several key leadership roles, including Director, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, Delhi; Vice-Chancellor, UP University of Medical Sciences, Saifai; and Professor & Head of Pulmonary Medicine at KGMU. Currently Director Medical Education and Head of Pulmonary Medicine at Era’s Lucknow Medical College, he is also a revered medical teacher and clinician. A recipient of over 60 national honours, including the Dr. B.C. Roy Award, the Padma Shri 2026 recognises his lifelong contribution to respiratory medicine and medical education in India.
Field: Medicine | State: Chhattisgarh
Dr. Ramchandra Godbole, an Ayurvedic physician, and Ms. Suneeta Godbole are recognised for over 37 years of selfless grassroots healthcare service in the remote tribal regions of Bastar and Abujhmad, Chhattisgarh. Through their initiative Trust for Health, the couple has delivered free primary healthcare, addressed malnutrition, and led health awareness programmes in villages lacking basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and mobile connectivity. Often travelling on foot and with minimal resources, they have ensured consistent medical outreach to some of India’s most underserved communities. The Padma Shri 2026 honours their extraordinary commitment to equitable healthcare access and community-led public health service.
Field: Medicine (Cardiology) | State: West Bengal
Dr. Saroj Mandal is a distinguished interventional cardiologist with over two decades of clinical and academic experience in advanced heart care. Trained at the University of Calcutta, he holds an MD in General Medicine and a DM in Cardiology, along with fellowships from the Royal Colleges of Physicians of Glasgow and Edinburgh. He serves as Professor and Unit Head of Cardiology at IPGMER & SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, and is a Senior Consultant at Woodlands Multispeciality Hospital. Founder of the Krishnaya Institute of Cardiac & Fetal Sciences, his expertise spans cardiac imaging, angioplasty, stenting, and device implantation. An accomplished academic, he has contributed to multiple medical textbooks and published extensively. The Padma Shri 2026 honours his lasting impact on cardiology and heart care in eastern India.
Field: Medicine (Infectious Diseases) | State: Uttar Pradesh
Dr. Shyam Sundar Agrawal is a distinguished infectious disease expert and senior professor at the Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University. He is internationally recognised for his landmark contributions to the treatment and control of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar), a major neglected tropical disease in India. He pioneered the single-dose lipid-based liposomal amphotericin B regimen, later endorsed by the World Health Organization and adopted under India’s National Kala-azar Elimination Programme. He also led trials validating multi-drug therapies, including paromomycin and miltefosine, and contributed to the development of miltefosine as an oral treatment. His work further enabled rapid field diagnosis through the rK-39 strip test, dramatically transforming kala-azar management in endemic regions. The Padma Shri 2026 honours his life-saving impact on public health.
Field: Medicine (Pathology & Haemophilia Care) | State: Karnataka
Dr. Suresh Hanagavadi is a distinguished pathologist and tireless advocate for haemophilia care in India. A Professor of Pathology at JJM Medical College, Davangere, he has devoted over four decades to the diagnosis, treatment, research, and advocacy of bleeding disorders. Living with severe haemophilia himself, he transformed personal adversity into public service by founding the Karnataka Haemophilia Society and establishing a comprehensive Haemophilia Treatment Centre in Davanagere. His efforts have expanded access to care, strengthened patient education, and advanced national policy, including haemophilia’s inclusion under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act. The Padma Shri 2026 honours his lifelong commitment to improving the lives of patients with rare blood disorders.
Disclaimer:
Healing the Nation: Padma Awardees 2026 in Medicine is an editorial feature by Voice of Healthcare for information and awareness only. The names are based on the official Padma Awards list released by the Government of India. The write-ups are compiled from publicly available information about the awardees. This feature does not imply endorsement, ranking, or evaluation by Voice of Healthcare. Readers are encouraged to verify details independently.