12th Dr. Ajay Khare Memorial Lecture and Jan Swasthya Samman held in Bhopal
Public health must be viewed not merely as treatment but as a matter of social justice and equality: Dr. Sunil Kaul
Dr. C. Sathyamala, Vivek Pawar,
and late Dr. C. M. Gulhati honoured with Jan Swasthya Samman
9 March 2026
The 12th Dr. Ajay Khare Memorial Lecture was held in Bhopal on 7 March 2026. The programme was jointly organised by Jan Swasthya Abhiyan Madhya Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh Medical Officers Association.
The lecture series is organised in memory of noted public health expert Dr. Ajay Khare, who was deeply associated with the people’s health movement and the science movement.
This year’s memorial lecture was delivered by Dr. Sunil Kaul, who spoke on the theme “Social Determinants of Health: Rethinking Health and Medicine.”
On this occasion, the Jan Swasthya Samman 2025 awards were also presented, the announcement of which was made by Dr. Anant Bhan.
A Special Posthumous Jan Swasthya Samman was conferred upon the late Dr. C. M. Gulhati for his remarkable work in the field of medicines and drug policy. Dr. C. Sathyamala, a senior public health expert,
for her outstanding contribution to public health.
Vivek Pawar, a public health and social activist, was honoured for his significant contribution to addressing the social determinants of health was also honoured
Introducing the programme, Amulya Nidhi stated that over the past twelve years, several leading public health experts from across the country have spoken on major public health challenges from this platform. This year, public health expert Dr. Sunil Kaul addressed the gathering, and the sixth National Jan Swasthya Samman was also presented.
In his lecture, Dr. Sunil Kaul emphasised that public health must not be confined to medical treatment alone but should be understood in the broader context of social justice, equality, and social conditions. He remarked that if the idea of taxing water becomes acceptable, the day may not be far when air too may be taxed. He also said that when politics deteriorates, it inevitably affects public health.
Referring to the important research on tuberculosis (TB) conducted by Dr. Anurag Bhargava, he highlighted the scientific link between TB and hunger. Today, it is widely accepted globally that along with medicines, adequate and nutritious food is essential for the effective treatment of TB. Despite this understanding, nearly 400,000 people continue to die of TB every year in India. Earlier, the target was to reduce TB deaths by 50 percent, but currently only around 25 percent reduction has been achieved, even though TB medicines are available free of cost.
He stressed that saving lives through public health requires not only increased health budgets but also stronger investments in nutrition, social security, education and equality.
Dr. Kaul also expressed concern about the growing commercialisation of education and competitive examinations, citing the example of exams like NEET. “The path we are moving on is a path of deviation,” he said.
Highlighting the serious issue of malnutrition in Madhya Pradesh, he questioned whether the current Anganwadi model is adequate or needs reform. He emphasised the need for deeper discussion on nutrition and care during the first 1000 days of life—from pregnancy to the first two years of a child’s life.
He also noted that a large portion of the national budget is allocated to the Home Ministry and defence, while relatively less investment is made in the social sector and public health.
Dr. Kaul described violence against women as a major public health crisis. According to government data, nearly 35,000 women die every year due to dowry-related or domestic violence, often by burning. Non-governmental estimates suggest the number could be as high as 75,000 deaths annually. He emphasised that alongside efforts to reduce maternal mortality, violence against women must also be addressed as a serious public health concern.
Citing a survey conducted in Assam, he said that 58 percent of men admitted to committing some form of violence against their wives, underscoring that violence is not merely a women’s issue but a broader societal and public health concern.
He further stated that hate, caste discrimination and communal violence also have profound impacts on public health. In 2020, a leading public health institution in the United States also recognised hate as a public health issue.
Speaking in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he noted that the original vision of health systems was equal care for all, but increasingly the reality is that without money, access to treatment becomes difficult. This situation leaves both the rich and the poor feeling insecure.
He emphasised the need to rise above caste and class-based discrimination and strengthen people’s autonomy and dignity.
Dr. Kaul also identified climate change as a major public health challenge, warning that Himalayan glaciers are melting rapidly and several studies indicate that their size could significantly decline in the coming years. “We can hope for the best, but we must prepare for the worst,” he said.
He advocated for a decentralised health model and strengthening community-based health systems. He suggested that ASHA workers could be trained further to provide medicines and basic primary care so that community-level health systems become more resilient during crises.
Raising concerns about the pricing of medicines, he said that many drugs are sold at prices several times higher than their manufacturing costs, which contributes to inequalities in the health system.
He also emphasised that public health should not remain confined to doctors alone, and must involve experts from anthropology, psychology and other social sciences.
Concluding his lecture on a hopeful note, he quoted:
“Ek zindagi dhoondh lao,
Wo bheegi hui chingaari dhoondh lao.”
In his presidential remarks, Dr. Rajneesh Joshi said that every individual’s behaviour and social context influence their health. Health, therefore, cannot be viewed only in terms of doctors, medicines and treatment. It is closely linked with education, empowerment, political will and poverty.
He emphasised that social determinants are among the most important factors influencing health and must remain central to public health efforts. Human beings, he said, do not exist in isolation; society, environment and living conditions together shape health outcomes.
Representing the Madhya Pradesh Medical Officers Association and speaking as the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) of Indore, Dr. Madhav Hasani said that the torch lit by Dr. Ajay Khare in the field of public health must be carried forward collectively. Sharing his experiences with Dr. Khare, he recalled how the organisation raised important public health issues in society.
He added that although he currently holds an administrative position, his commitment to public health remains unchanged. Recent developments in Indore, he said, underline the need to address not only treatment but also the broader social and environmental determinants of health.
He concluded by stating that the aim of public health is not merely to treat disease but to create conditions in which people can live healthy and dignified lives, and therefore the health system must move forward with a holistic perspective.
The introduction of the keynote speaker Dr. Sunil Kaul was given by Rakesh Dewan, while Subhash Sharma, General Secretary of Vigyan Sabha, welcomed the chair of the programme Dr. Rajneesh Joshi.
The programme was moderated by Ms. Aarti Pandey and Dhirendra Arya. Guests were welcomed by Sudha Tiwari, Mohan Sulya and Azam Khan, and the vote of thanks was delivered by Ashish Pare.