International consultation of Policymakers of 27 countries at PGIMER Chandigarh
A one-week Public Health Policy and Management Program for senior policymakers from 27 countries will be organised at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, from 9–14 September 2026.
The program is being organised by the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh,* with the participation of 50 senior-level healthcare professionals from Seychelles, Cambodia, Nigeria, Indonesia, Ghana, Tanzania, Iraq, Tunisia, Lebanon, Armenia, Argentina, Togo, Russia, Malawi, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Gabon, Nepal, Kenya, Namibia, Tajikistan, Liberia, Egypt, Laos, Uzbekistan, Burkina Faso and Cameroon.*
The program aims to strengthen the capacity of policymakers and senior health professionals in public health policy formulation, implementation, health-system management and evidence-informed decision-making. The learning is expected to support participants in designing and implementing effective health policies and programs in their respective countries, contributing towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Over the past decade, the program has emerged as an important platform for India’s global health diplomacy and South-South cooperation, having trained more than *1,800 healthcare professionals from 97 countries.*
Speaking about the program, *Dr. Sonu Goel,* Program Director and Professor, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh, said that the flagship program has been conducted for nearly a decade and has contributed to strengthening South-South development cooperation among 161 ITEC partner countries across Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific, including Small Island Developing States.The program reflects India’s ethos of “ *Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”-* the world is one family, by providing a platform for countries to share experiences, exchange knowledge and explore context-specific solutions to common public health challenges.
The academic program will feature sessions by distinguished faculty from PGIMER and other leading institutions, covering key aspects of public health policy, health-system strengthening, leadership, governance and management. *The program will also provide participants with an opportunity to observe Indian best practices through field visits and experiential learning* .As part of the field exposure, participants will visit the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh to understand the implementation of the Smart City concept and observe how public policies are translated into action at the local level. *They will also visit selected departments and centres at PGIMER to witness state-of-the-art healthcare and technology-enabled services, including tele-evidence, telemedicine and the Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO), among other facilities.* The program will employ innovative and participatory learning methodologies, including case-based learning, simulations, role plays, gamification, peer learning and experiential learning, enabling participants to connect policy concepts with real-world health-system practices.
A cultural and networking eventwill also be organised on 11 September 2026, providing participants with an informal platform to interact, share experiences and build professional networks for future collaboration and knowledge exchange.A key feature of the program will be the development of anAction Plan by each participant based on the learning gained during the program. The implementation of these plans will subsequently be followed up by the program organisers.The best-performing country report will be recognised and rewarded by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
