Srinagar, Apr 11 (KNO): The 52nd Annual National Conference of the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (IAPSMCON 2025) commenced on Friday in Srinagar, drawing over 1,200 delegates from across India, including representatives from all 36 states and Union Territories.
Organised by the Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, the three-day conference is one of the largest medical and public health events ever hosted in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the event, Secretary of Health and Medical Education, Syed Abid Rasheed, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), emphasised the significance of the conference in aligning advancements in medical education with public health practices.
“This conference is a reflection of our commitment to academic excellence and innovation in public health. It offers a platform to bring together diverse voices and experiences from across the country,” he said.
Dr Abid called for leveraging national-level advancements for the benefit of local medical professionals and, ultimately, patients. “Doctors from Kashmir have earned global recognition, and integrating new knowledge through such forums will further enhance their capabilities,” he added.
The Secretary Health further said Kashmir is evolving as a tourist hub, making the region more conducive to hosting such large-scale academic events. He hinted at more such conferences being planned in the future.
The event includes 10 plenary sessions, 20 best practice presentations, over 560 research paper presentations, and daily sessions from 9 am to 5 pm, with a valedictory session on day 3.
Experts in medicine, public health and health policy will discuss emerging challenges, innovations, and strategies in healthcare delivery and education. The conference also provides a valuable networking and learning platform for students, researchers, and practitioners.
A senior official from GMC Srinagar said, “This initiative will showcase the academic strength of J&K and bolster national-level collaborations in healthcare.”
The conference is expected to contribute to policy development, healthcare delivery improvement, and the integration of public health with academic medicine across India—(KNO)