On 3rd February 2026, Virohan hosted an insightful panel discussion on the “Role of Allied Health in Viksit Bharat 2047” in collaboration with All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Nagpur and India House, at the AIIMS Nagpur campus.

The session brought together voices from healthcare, regulation, academia, policy, and industry to explore one pressing challenge: How Allied and Healthcare Professionals will power India’s healthcare journey?

The conversation took place at a critical moment. With the Union Budget in 2026–27 announcing a dedicated scheme to strengthen India’s allied and healthcare workforce, including a 1,000 crore allocation and a plan to train 1 lakh allied and healthcare professionals and 1.5 lakh care professionals, the sector is entering a new phase of policy momentum and opportunity.

The Esteemed Panel

The session brought together an esteemed panel of experts shaping the future of healthcare and education.

• Dr. Prashant P. Joshi, Executive Director & CEO, AIIMS Nagpur
• Dr. Umanjali Damke, Chairperson, Maharashtra State Allied & Healthcare Council
• Dr. Dhananjay D. Sagdeo, Hematologist & Padma Shri Awardee
• Dr. Vivek Kapur, Vice Chancellor, G H Raisoni Skill Tech University, Nagpur
• Dr. Anurag Shahi, Head of Academics, Virohan

Key Takeaways from the Discussion

Speakers highlighted the urgent priorities:

• Bridging the gap between policy vision and on-ground institutional implementation
• Addressing India’s severe allied & healthcare workforce shortage, a 95% gap between demand and formally trained professionals – by scaling healthcare education
• Empowering universities to modernise curricula, strengthen faculty, and expand training capacity
• Embedding early, real-world healthcare exposure by healthcare providers to make allied health a credible, long-term career pathway

The panel also underscored the need for closer collaboration between universities, regulators, and the industry to ensure training stays relevant to evolving healthcare demands.

The Way Forward

As India’s healthcare needs continue to grow, Allied and Healthcare Professionals will be central to improving access, quality, and continuity of care, especially beyond metro cities.

Closing India’s allied & healthcare workforce gap will require system-level collaboration, industry-aligned training models, and a stronger focus on employability and outcomes.

Conversations like these are essential to building a future-ready healthcare ecosystem for Viksit Bharat 2047.