Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda on October 1 highlighted the government’s focus on preventive healthcare, primary care and financial protection while addressing the World Congress of Gastroenterology (WCOG 2026) in New Delhi.
The four-day international congress, being held in India for the first time, began on October 1 and will continue until October 3. It has brought together gastroenterologists, hepatologists, surgeons, researchers, nurses and other healthcare professionals from India and abroad.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Nadda said the National Health Policy 2017 had established a broader approach to healthcare covering preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative services. He also highlighted the role of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in expanding access to primary healthcare and preventive services.
According to figures cited by the minister, around 1.86 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are currently operational. Population-based screening through these centres covers people aged 30 years and above for hypertension, diabetes and common cancers, including oral, breast and cervical cancers.
Nadda said more than 420 million screenings each had been conducted for hypertension and diabetes, while screenings for oral, breast and cervical cancers had crossed 360 million, 170 million and 90 million, respectively.
The minister also referred to government initiatives aimed at promoting healthier diets and lifestyles, including the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s Eat Right India campaign and Poshan Maah.
On maternal and child health, Nadda cited improvements in institutional deliveries and mortality indicators. He said institutional deliveries had risen from 79 per cent in 2015-16 to around 90 per cent, while India recorded an 86 per cent decline in maternal mortality between 1990 and 2023. He also cited declines in under-five and neonatal mortality during the corresponding period.
Nadda further highlighted the expansion of the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), stating that the scheme now covers more than 600 million beneficiaries and provides health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family annually. He said the scheme has also been extended to senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their economic status.
According to figures shared at the event, more than 13 crore treatments have been provided under AB-PMJAY, involving healthcare expenditure of over ₹2 lakh crore.
The minister also pointed to the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana as part of efforts to improve access to lower-cost generic medicines. He said more than 20,149 Jan Aushadhi Kendras are currently operating across the country and that the initiative has resulted in estimated savings of around ₹45,000 crore for citizens.
He also cited government data showing a decline in out-of-pocket expenditure as a share of total health expenditure, from 62 per cent in 2014-15 to 43.4 per cent in 2021-22.
WCOG 2026 is being organised under the theme “Transforming Gastrointestinal Health, Preserving Nature”. The event is jointly hosted by the Indian Society of Gastroenterology and the World Gastroenterology Organisation, along with several Indian professional associations working in gastroenterology, hepatology, pancreatology and related fields.
The scientific programme includes lectures, debates, workshops, live demonstrations and research presentations covering developments in gastrointestinal and liver diseases. The congress also focuses on research, clinical practice, technology and multidisciplinary collaboration.
During the event, Nadda presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to senior professionals for their contributions to gastroenterology, research and patient care.
The inaugural event was attended by Prof. Nikhil Tandon, Director, AIIMS; Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India; Dr Carolina Olano, President, World Gastroenterology Organisation; Dr Govind Makharia, Chairman, Local Organising Committee, WCOG; and Dr Mathew Philip, Secretary General, Indian Society of Gastroenterology, among others.
The first edition of WCOG to be hosted in India is also providing Indian medical professionals and researchers an opportunity to engage with international experts and share research and clinical experience in gastrointestinal healthcare.