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 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.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. 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.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 Goswal, 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. 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.Also read: Leading Gastroenterologist Padma Bhushan Dr S K Sarin Shares Dos & Don’ts For Healthy Liver At Times Health Summit 2026 Aftermath 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.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. 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.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.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. 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.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.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.