KMCH Research Foundation and KMCH Institute of Health Sciences and Research organised the third International Conference on Indian Rural Public Health and Non-Communicable Diseases (IRPH NCD 2026) at NGP Arts and Science College on Saturday and Sunday.

The two-day conference brought together international and national delegates to discuss advancing rural public health and preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through research, innovation and collaboration.

Discussions focused on the risk factors and prevention of NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity and hypertension.

The conference also covered rural public health, epidemiology, NCDs such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancers, as well as grant writing and research funding in partnership with organisations such as the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

0a974177 90f9 4549 a8f0 471bd960c1a8 1The inaugural ceremony was held on Sunday afternoon. Prabhakaran Dorairaj, Executive Director, Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC), and President-Elect, World Heart Federation, was the chief guest. Dr. Krishnaraj, Joint Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (Non-Communicable Diseases) and State Nodal Officer of the National Tobacco Control Programme, was the guest of honour.

Dr. Mohanraj, Senior Scientist, KMCH Research Foundation, delivered the welcome address. Dr. Arulraj Ramakrishnan, Director, KMCH Research Foundation, who led the landmark KMCH Non-Communicable Diseases Study, delivered the inaugural address. He spoke about the study and the initiatives of the KMCH Research Foundation.

The study was conducted in Nallampatti, the birthplace of Dr. Nalla G. Palaniswami, Chairman, KMCH, as well as in Thadagam and Kalapatti, said Dr. Arulraj Ramakrishnan.

He thanked the residents of the villages for their support and participation in the study.

4 2Dr. Arun N. Palaniswami, President, KMCH Research Foundation and Joint Managing Director, KMCH, delivered the felicitation address. He stressed the need to focus on preventive healthcare and said that eliminating pollution in India would contribute to the country’s economic progress.

He called for greater efforts in preventive healthcare and said that more conferences of this kind would help build a healthier India.

A major highlight of the inaugural ceremony was the release of the report, “10 Years of Report of KMCH’s NCD Study”, commemorating a decade of dedicated research on non-communicable diseases. The report was released by the chief guest, Prabhakaran Dorairaj, and Dr. Nalla G. Palaniswami, along with other dignitaries.

3Pradeep, Institute Professor, Department of Chemistry, IIT Madras, Chennai, delivered the special address and congratulated the KMCH Research Foundation on completing 10 years of dedicated research for the welfare of the people.

7 1Dr. Nalla G. Palaniswami, Chairman, KMCH, delivered the presidential address. He said the occasion was an important day for KMCH and for him personally. He spoke about the reasons behind establishing the KMCH Research Foundation and thanked Dr. Krishnan Swaminathan, Dr. Prabhakaran Dorairaj and other doctors for their support towards the research and its success.

He stressed the importance of focusing on prevention and urged the government to allocate a higher budget for healthcare.

6The guest of honour, Dr. Krishnaraj also delivered the special address.

2 2Participants were honoured for their presentations at the end of the programme.

19 1The Dr. Thavamani Devi Young Investigator Award was presented to Dr. Chandrasekar Ponnuswamy, Assistant Professor (Research), Department of Biotechnology, Rathinam Global Deemed to be University.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Velmurugan, Senior Scientist, KMCH Research Foundation.