VP Radhakrishnan Opens KAUMARACON-2026; Pushes for Scientific Validation of Ayurveda
Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan inaugurates the 3rd international conference on Ayurvedic paediatrics and celebrates AIIA's 10th Foundation Day.
Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan has officially inaugurated KAUMARACON-2026 at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi. The event, which serves as the third international conference on Kaumarabhritya (Ayurvedic paediatrics), is being held from October 15 to 17, 2026. This prestigious gathering coincides with the Institute’s 10th Foundation Day, marking a decade of milestones in clinical services, scientific research, and Ayurvedic education.
Shaping the Future of Child Health
The conference is centered around the theme “Shaping the Future of Child Health: Global Perspectives, Research Innovations, and Clinical Frontiers in Kaumarabhritya.” During the ceremony, the Vice-President emphasized that India's traditional medicine is a profound legacy born from civilisational wisdom and centuries of knowledge.
Addressing the gathering, VP Radhakrishnan called for an increase in rigorous scientific research to prove the efficacy of traditional healthcare. He noted that such validation is essential to build patient confidence and ensure that India’s traditional systems of medicine gain wider global acceptance.
A Vision Parallel to AIIMS
The Vice-President highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to develop the AIIA to a standard comparable to AIIMS. He noted that the Institute is steadily moving toward achieving this goal. He urged practitioners and researchers to keep child health at the forefront of their efforts while blending traditional wisdom with modern scientific validation.
He also pointed to two major global milestones: the international recognition of Yoga and the establishment of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, both of which help share India's ancient knowledge with the rest of the world.
Integration into Modern Healthcare
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, spoke about the transformative journey of traditional medicine over the last decade. He observed that Ayurveda, once viewed merely as an "alternative" approach, is now being integrated into the broader healthcare framework.
Minister Jadhav credited this shift to several key factors:
- Institutional development and expanded healthcare services.
- A focus on quality assurance and evidence-based clinical practices.
- The leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
AIIA's Decade of Excellence
The Minister praised the AIIA for its rapid growth since it was dedicated to the nation in 2017. He highlighted the Institute's achievements, including:
- Attaining NAAC A++ accreditation.
- The expansion of specialized outpatient services.
- The advancement of its research infrastructure.
He stressed that child health must remain a national priority, noting that classical Ayurvedic knowledge provides invaluable insights into maternal and child nutrition, growth, and preventive healthcare. He urged the combination of these classical perspectives with contemporary scientific methods to ensure paediatric care is safe and effective.
Strengthening the Ayush Sector
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, described the event as a moment to reflect on the institutional transformation of traditional medicine in India. He detailed the government's ongoing efforts to strengthen the sector through the National Ayush Mission, increased healthcare access, and international collaborations, further underscored by the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar.