The Times Network India Health Summit 2026 brought together policymakers, clinicians, researchers and healthcare industry leaders to discuss the future of India's healthcare system, with conversations spanning medical innovation, access to treatment, mental health, women's health and preventive care.The third edition of the Times Network India Health Summit & Awards was held in New Delhi on October 28 under the theme, The Blueprint for a Future-Ready Healthcare Ecosystem: Innovation. Access. Self-Reliance.From the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnostics to advances in fertility treatment and the need to strengthen public health infrastructure, various sessions explored several aspects of how healthcare delivery could evolve. Here are the key discussions and takeaways from the summit.Anupriya Patel Highlights India's Healthcare Priorities Including Ayushman Bharat CoverageUnion Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel addressed the summit on building a future-ready healthcare ecosystem. With around 500 Ayushman Bharat cards issued, Patel also said that 132.5 million people had received free treatment under the scheme.She said, "Anupriya Patel said that under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, eligible beneficiaries are entitled to free treatment worth up to Rs 5 lakh. Around 500 million Ayushman cards have been issued under the scheme, and 132.5 million people have benefited from it to receive free treatment."She also addressed India's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, stating that Union health budget increased from around Rs 37,000 crore in 2014 to more than Rs 1.06 lakh crore.She said, "India is moving forward with a very big goal. Viksit Bharat in 2047. So, when we want to stand in the category of developed countries of the world, it is necessary that our citizens can contribute to this resolution with their full strength."Also read: Infertility Affects 1 In 6 Couples: Experts Highlight Age, IVF Costs & Male Fertility At Times Health Summit 2026 Delhi Health Minister Dr. Pankaj Singh Addressed Air Pollution CrisisDelhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh answered key questions about the city’s looming air pollution crisis. He said that the government's various pollution-control measures, including electric vehicle (EV) policy can help fight it. He also spoke about the need for long-term solutions. “Hamari sarkar short term par nahi chalti,” Singh said"Our focus is on long-term solutions. Our policy on EV can help tackle pollution crisis. As more and more people start using electric vehicles, transport-related pollution will come under control."Turning to healthcare infrastructure, Singh announced that the Delhi government plans to open four new hospitals in the capital by January. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) AYUSH Prataprao Jadhav, Madhya Pradesh Minister of State Narendra Shivaji Patel and Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal, were also scheduled to address different aspects of healthcare policy and delivery.Padma Bhushan Dr S K Sarin On Liver Health Padma Bhushan Dr Shiv Kumar Sarin, leading hepatologist, gastroenterologist, and medical educator who also serves as the Senior Professor, Chancellor, and Director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), recently spoke about the dos and don’ts to maintain a healthy liver at the Times Health Summit 2026.From ideal breakfast time to late night eating, the expert spoke about common lifestyle mistakes people make that could worsen their liver health.Dr Sarin said, "Obesity during youth increases the risk of heart disease later in life. After the age of 40, eating one meal a day may have health implications. The total daily calorie intake should not exceed 300–400. Avoid eating late at night."Also read: Unspoken Side Of Breast Cancer: Experts Discuss Recurrence Risk, Emotional Toll & Societal Impact At Times Health Summit 2026 Need For Investment In Ayurveda & AYUSH SectorThe session From Tradition to Therapeutics: The New Science of AYUSH was based on the role of traditional medicine in India's healthcare landscape.Dr Biswaroop Roy Chowdhury, Founder of BRC Clinics Health, and Dr Tanmay Goswami, Founder of GOSVAL, discussed Ayurveda, its potential applications and questions surrounding its integration with modern medicine.The speakers spoke about Ayurveda’s scientific research, evidence, AYUSH funding, clinical applications and integration with western medicine. The experts said that Ayurveda sector is valued at approximately $17–18 billion, while China's traditional medicine sector is estimated at around $30 billion, calling for greater investment in the sector.Dr Chowdhury said, "Ayurveda is fastest, safest and works faster even in medical emergencies and trauma". Mental Health: Suicide Risk, Screen Addiction & More Mental healthcare was another focus, with Dr Deepak Kumar, Professor and Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), discussing The Next Frontier in Indian Psychiatry: Specialization, Geriatric Mental Health, and De-addiction Strategies.The doctor discussed immediate threat of suicidal thoughts, warning behavioural signs, screen addiction and need for parents to supervise and limit screen use in children.He said, "If we look at the numbers in our country, the total proportion is alarming. For example, the national mental health survey shows a lifetime prevalence of 13.7%. One in every 5 people has some psychological issue. Suicide statistics show 12 per lakh. Top 3 causes of death in young adults - one of them is suicide."Also read: Leading Gastroenterologist Padma Bhushan Dr S K Sarin Shares Dos & Don’ts For Healthy Liver At Times Health Summit 2026 Aftermath Of Breast Cancer Diagnosis & Treatment Women's health was featured prominently at the summit, with the knowledge session Take Charge Together: Shaping a Future of Greater Breast Cancer Awareness and Better Outcomes.The session featured Dr Meenu Walia, Chairman of Medical Oncology at Max Healthcare; Vaishali Iyer, Country Head of Communications, Patient Advocacy and CSR at Novartis in India; and Dr Pankaj Goyal, Senior Consultant and Unit Head of Medical Oncology at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute.Dr Meenu Walia said, "Your first attempt at treatment is your best attempt."The experts focused on the risk of recurrence, the emotional toll of breast cancer treatment, financial and societal hardships, body image issues, intimacy problems and other challenges patients face after leaving the hospital.Dr Priya Parmar said, "Some unsaid things she faces are relationship issues, intense fatigues, post-menopausal symptoms, loss of a body part, loss of body image and your sense of self. Breasts are associated with femininity. And when you lose that, your attitude changes, intimacy issues come up, you don't know who to talk to.""With latest advancements, the chance of recurrence has come down." He emphasised that patient-doctor relationship is also very important. "I contradict the patient in most cases so that they are in the same platform," Dr Pankaj said. Fertility Treatment And ParenthoodThe panel The Fertility Revolution: Reimagining Parenthood in Modern India spoke about the evolving field of reproductive medicine and the challenges faced by people seeking fertility treatment.The speakers included Dr Ranjana Sharma, Senior Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital; Dr Vimal Grover, Senior Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Fortis LaFemme; Dr Hrishikesh Pai, Founder and Managing Director of Bloom IVF India; and Dr Abha Majumdar, Emeritus Consultant in IVF and Human Reproduction at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.The session brought attention to fertility preservation, IVF costs, male infertility, stigma women face, and the judgments that come with seeking IVF for starting a family.Dr. Majumdar highlighted four major observations on the revolutionary trajectory of IVF. She said, "There is reproductive autonomy. Girls now can choose when they want to have a child or whether they want to have a child - but freezing your eggs is not a guarantee its only insurance."Dr. Vimal Grover weighed in, highlighting growing infertility crisis in the country. Dr. Grover said, "One in six couples is infertile."Dr. Ranjana Sharma said that women single-handedly carry the onus of fertility. She said, "There's not much doubt about it. Whatever we say, the woman is considered to be at fault. More and more men are getting aware about this so we make it a point to see them together so that they take ownership of the problem. With education things are changing, there's a long way to go. But we need to impress upon them that she is not the only partner in the game and they have a role to play. Once we explain to them, they understand."Also read: Experts Discuss Ayurveda For Treating Lifestyle Disorders, Medical Emergencies & Trauma At Times Health Summit 2026 Why Menopause Is A Long-Overlooked Health IssueThe session From Silence to Care: Why India Can No Longer Ignore Menopause focused on menopause and the need to bring greater attention to women's health during midlife.The session was led by Sanjith Shetty, Founder and CEO of Miror. He spoke about the suicide rates among menopausal women, along with other life challenges like divorces, retirements, and social isolation.Shetty said, "The highest rate of suicide in women is during the menopause period. During this time, their is a surge in the number of divorces, women feel isolated in their own houses, they are forced to quit work because they have no energy. This should not be overlooked."Digging Deeper Into Longevity Science The fireside chat From LifeSpan to HealthSpan: Can Science Help Us Live Longer and Better? explored the science of longevity and the difference between living longer and maintaining good health for more years.The conversation featured Dr Chirantan Bose and Dr Preetesh Bhandari, founders of Vytalyou. They spoke about the importance of maintaining muscle health, monitoring neurological health, and warding off lifestyle diseases like obesity and diabetes."Ageing is basically the soil on which diseases happen. So, if we master the art of treating the soil, we know we have come a long way." Other Sessions The role of technology in modern medicine was explored in Precision Diagnostics: AI, Genomics & The New Era Of Personalized Care. The panel featured Dr Arjun Dang, CEO and Partner at Dr Dangs Lab; Dr Manish Vaish, Director and Head of the Institute of Neurosciences at Medanta, Noida; and Dr Belal Bin Asaf, Director of the Institute of Chest Surgery, Chest Onco-Surgery and Lung Transplant at Medanta, Noida. The discussion focused on the evolving role of artificial intelligence and genomics in diagnostics, personalised treatment and improving diagnostic accuracy.Dr, Vaish explained, "When I am doing a surgery in the OT, I actually perform the surgery before doing it. That is a generative AI. When I use the help of a robot, that is assistive AI."The future of specialised medical services was examined in The Next Frontier of Advanced Care: Scaling Capacity, Innovation & Clinical Excellence. The session brought together Dr V.S. Chauhan, Chairman and Managing Director of Prakash Hospitals and Institutions, and Prof. Dr Sanjeev Bagai, Chairman of Nephron Clinic. The discussion centred on expanding advanced healthcare capacity, strengthening clinical excellence and leveraging innovation and technology to improve patient outcomes while making specialised treatment more accessible."AI can be a two edge sword that we need to use judiciously." Both the experts emphasised that AI is helping a lot but needs to be wisely used. Dr Bagai also spoke about how AI is "dominating" the social media world and causing cognitive disfunction in children. "So, we need to be careful."Addressing the challenges of equitable healthcare delivery, Reengineering Public Health Infrastructure: Last-Mile Delivery, Digital Health Equity, and Rural Access brought together Dr Anoop Saraya of the Institute of Liver & Biliary Sciences; Dr Charu Dutt Arora of AmeriHealth Home Healthcare, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences; Dr Gyanendra Kumar of Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences; Girish Krishnamurthy, CEO of Tata Medical & Diagnostics; and Dr Jyoti Wadhwa of Apollo Athenaa Women's Cancer Centres. The session focused on strengthening public health infrastructure, improving rural and last-mile access, and exploring the role of digital health and healthcare delivery models in bridging gaps in access to medical services.Dr Dutt said, "When it comes to empowering any nursing staff, AI is very powerful. The risk is avoided at quality is given."List Of Awardees At The Times Network India Health Summit 2026Sr.TitleCompany1Excellence in Gynaecology, IVF & InfertilityDr. Hrishikesh Pai2Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in HealthcarePrakash Hospital3Leader in Menopause & Hormonal HealthSanjith Shetty, Founder & CEO – Miror4Excellence in Integrated Healthcare, Medical Education & ResearchKALINGA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES (KIMS) BHUBANESWAR5Healthcare & Allied Health EducationGuru Ram Das Group of College, Malout6Excellence in Formulation Development and Manufacturing InnovationMr. Nishant Berlia Co-Promoter, Apeejay Stya and Svran Group7Pioneering Excellence in Ambidextrous Cataract SurgeryDr. Rakesh Gupta, Chairman & MD, Shreya Eye Centre8Service Excellence in Spiritual Yoga and Holistic WellnessDr Manmeet kumar9Excellence in AI- Powered Pharmaceutical SFA SoftwareM R Reporting10Women Leadership Excellence in Pharmaceutical ManufacturingKalpana B Jain- Managing Director Micropure Parenterals Private Limited11Excellence in Healthcare CSR Implementation & ImpactMedical Warehouse12Excellence in Patient-First Drug ManufacturingAkums13Excellence in TPA for Overall PerformanceEricson TPA14Excellence in Improving Public Health OutcomesTATA MD15Service Excellence in PhysiotherapyDr Michael Manoj Chinnam PT16Excellence in Preventive Medicine and Longevity SciencesVytalYou: Longevity Clinic17Excellence In Embryo SafetyIndira IVF18Excellence in Patient Journey: Consultation to Long-Term Follow-UpEugenix Hair Sciences19Emerging Leader in Fever & Infectious Disease CareDr Navneet Arora20Excellence in Medical Education and Multispeciality HealthcareNoida International Institute of Medical Sciences (NIIMS)21Excellence in Affordable Medicines and Healthcare DeliveryAMRIT Pharmacies from HLL Lifecare Limited22Excellence Global Healthcare Risk ManagementRoy Medical Assistance Opc Private Limited23Excellence in Healthcare Service and Patient SafetyBombay Hospital24Service Excellence in Real-time Health & WellnessMaharishi Ayurveda Hospital25Excellence in Strategic Brand LeadershipAakriti Thakur26Excellence in Sexual Health Research & AwarenessDr Mohd Sharif, NISHA HEALTH CARE27Excellence in Holistic Sexual Wellness & CareDr. Anita Shyam28Service Excellence in Ayurveda Infertility CareVedaNova29Excellence in Clinical Psychology & Mental HealthcareDr Moumita Nandy30Excellence in Bone Cancer Implants and Joints Replacement SolutionsShagun Cares India Pvt. Ltd31Strategic Association & Valued ContributionOnextel Communication Media32Distinguished Contribution to Medicine and HealthcareDr Mohsin Ali, Padma Shri33Lifetime Achievement in Medical Science and Public Health LeadershipDr N. K. Ganguly, Padma Bhushan34Outstanding Contribution to Maternal and Child NutritionDr Arun Gupta35Lifetime Achievement in Liver Care and TransplantationDr. Arvinder Singh SoinRankings Hospital nameCategoryZoneLocationRankingBombay Hospital and Medical Research CentreMultispecialityNational12Bombay Hospital and Medical Research CentreMultispecialityWest4Bombay Hospital and Medical Research CentreMultispecialityWestMumbai3Marengo Asia HospitalMultispecialityAhmedabad1Marengo Asia HospitalMultispecialityFaridabad2Marengo Asia HospitalMultispecialityGurugram4Marengo Asia HospitalMultispecialitySurat2Indira IVFIVF / FertilitySuperclinic chain1Paras HealthcareGroup of HospitalsNational3Eugenix Hair SciencesTrichologySuperclinic chain1As India’s healthcare landscape rapidly transforms through medical innovation, cutting-edge infrastructure, and patient-centric care, the Times Network India Health Summit & Awards 2026 celebrated the premier institutions, group healthcare networks, and single-specialty chains defining the benchmark of medical excellence nationwide.The national survey evaluated institutions across a multi-stage methodology factoring in clinical parameters, infrastructural quality, patient outcomes, and peer recommendations across national, zonal, and city tiers. Below are the key award highlights and survey rankings unveiled during the ceremony.Partner Details:In association with – Onextel Communication MediaCo – Powered By - NovartisSupported By - Health and MeWest Outdoor Partner – SIMCANorth Outdoor Partner – Heights OutdoorAutomobile Partner - Volvo