WGF Stall at the 52nd Annual National IAPSMCON 2025, ICC Center, Srinagar

The 52nd Annual National Conference of the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (IAPSMCON 2025) was held from April 11 to 13, 2025, at the ICC Center, Srinagar, organized by the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Government Medical College, Srinagar. The event united over 1,270 delegates from across India, with representation from all 32 states and Union Territories, truly making it a national convergence of public health professionals and experts

About IAPSM
The Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (IAPSM) is a professional body dedicated to advancing the discipline of community medicine and public health in India. Through its annual conferences, IAPSM fosters academic excellence, policy advocacy, and the exchange of innovative ideas to strengthen preventive and social medicine across the country.

Medical College Representation
India has over 700 colleges recognized by the National Medical Commission as of early 2025. The IAPSMCON 2025 witnessed representation from nearly all medical colleges, as delegates. More than 1,200 delegates attended the conference, engaging in plenary discussions, keynote addresses, and scientific presentations that spanned the spectrum of public health, preventive medicine, and community-based healthcare innovations.

WHEELS Global Foundation Stall

Showcasing innovation, the WHEELS Global Foundation (WGF) stall stood out as a hub of innovation, demonstrating how cross-sector collaboration can advance public health solutions. The stall showcased a range of products and initiatives, each addressing critical health challenges in India:

• Reusable Saukhyam Sanitary Pads: Promoting menstrual hygiene and sustainability, these pads offer a cost-effective, eco-friendly alternative for women and girls. Read More.
• Telemedicine Solutions: Bridging healthcare access gaps, particularly in rural and underserved areas, through remote consultations and digital health platforms. Read More.
• Yoga of Immortals for Mental Resilience: A program focused on building mental resilience among medical students, addressing the growing need for mental health support in the medical community. Read More.
• Health Spoken Tutorials (IIT Mumbai): Educational modules on maternal and child nutrition were delivered by Dr. Bella Tony and Sakina Sidwa, equipping healthcare providers and communities with accessible, high-quality information. Read More.
• Noninvasive / Minimally Invasive Devices (IIT Kharagpur): Innovative devices for population screening of anemia, diabetes, and oral cancer, enabling early detection and intervention. Read More.

The demonstration of these products by the HST team from IIT Bombay, and Sohom Banerji from IIT Kharagpur was particularly well-received, with delegates commending the practical utility and scalability of the solutions presented.

Leadership and Collaboration
Dr. Varsha Vaidya, Professor of Community Medicine at Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, was instrumental in conceptualizing the WGF stall. Her initiative, supported by the WHEELS Global Foundation, exemplified the power of intersectoral coordination. By bringing together advancements from community medicine, technology, and wellness, the team demonstrated a model for collaborative public health action.

Impact and Significance

WHEELS Global Foundation’s presence at the 52nd Annual National IAPSMCON 2025 generated significant momentum for collaborative healthcare innovation and research partnerships.

Key Outcomes
• Over 30 Medical Colleges Expressed Interest in MOUs with IIT Kharagpur:
More than 30 medical colleges showed keen interest in signing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with IIT Kharagpur to conduct clinical trials of the minimally invasive screening devices showcased at the stall. This marks a major step toward the real-world validation and scaling of these technologies within diverse healthcare settings.
• Research Partnerships for Reusable Saukhyam Pads, HST, YOI, and Telemedicine:
Numerous institutions expressed interest in research collaborations focused on the reusable Saukhyam sanitary pads, Health Spoken Tutorials (HST), Yoga of Immortals (YOI) mental resilience training, and telemedicine solutions. This widespread interest underscores the relevance of these innovations to current public health challenges and the appetite for cross-sectoral research and implementation.
Broader Impact
• Catalyst for Intersectoral Collaboration:
The strong response from medical colleges and public health leaders demonstrates the stall’s role as a catalyst for intersectoral partnerships—bridging academia, technology, and healthcare delivery.
• Enabling Scale and Reach:
By leveraging the IIT ecosystem and the WHEELS Global Foundation’s pan-India network, these collaborations are poised to accelerate the adoption and impact of technological solutions in preventive medicine and community health.
• Model for Technology-Driven Social Impact:
The outcomes at IAPSMCON 2025 reflect WGF’s mission to act as an impact enabler, scaling promising social impact models and fostering innovation through collaborative research and field implementation.

Conclusion
The enthusiastic engagement of over 30 medical colleges for MOUs with IIT Kharagpur, along with widespread interest in research partnerships for reusable sanitary pads, HST, YOI, and telemedicine, highlights the substantial and immediate impact of the WHEELS Global Foundation’s participation at IAPSMCON 2025. This momentum sets the stage for transformative advances in public health through technology-enabled, collaborative approaches. The WGF stall not only highlighted cutting-edge healthcare solutions but also set a benchmark for how partnerships between academia, industry, and non-profit organizations can address pressing public health challenges. The convergence of diverse innovations—ranging from menstrual hygiene to digital health, mental wellness, and early disease detection—reflects a holistic approach to healthcare that aligns with the conference’s theme of “Integrative Approaches for Comprehensive Care in One Health.”

For enquiry Mail: info@wheelsglobal.org

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