NEW DELHI: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated KAUMARACON-2026 at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Ayush. The event is the third international conference on Kaumarabhritya (Ayurvedic paediatrics). It is being held from 15 to 17 October, 2026 under the theme “Shaping the Future of Child Health: Global Perspectives, Research Innovations, and Clinical Frontiers in Kaumarabhritya.” The occasion also marked the Institute’s Foundation Day. It celebrated a decade of progress in Ayurvedic education, clinical services, scientific research and innovation.

The Vice-President called for greater scientific research to establish the efficacy of traditional healthcare practices, strengthen patient confidence and enhance the global acceptance of India’s traditional systems of medicine. He noted that India’s traditional systems of medicine represent a valuable legacy rooted in its civilisational wisdom and centuries-old knowledge traditions. He also highlighted the international recognition of Yoga and the establishment of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar as important milestones in sharing India’s traditional knowledge with the world.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of developing AIIA at par with AIIMS, the Vice President said the Institute was progressing towards realising this vision. Congratulating AIIA on its 10th Foundation Day, he emphasised the importance of sustained efforts in research, innovation and academic excellence to further strengthen the Institute’s standing. He called upon researchers and practitioners to preserve traditional wisdom, strengthen it through scientific validation and place child health at the centre of their efforts.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, highlighted the transformative journey of India’s traditional systems of medicine over the past decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also noted that Ayurveda and other traditional healthcare systems, once often regarded as alternative approaches, are increasingly being integrated into the broader healthcare framework through institutional development, scientific research, quality assurance and evidence-based clinical practices.

Referring to the Ministry of Ayush’s 11-year progress, Prataprao Jadhav highlighted the growing public trust in Ayush systems, the expansion of healthcare services and India’s increasing international recognition in traditional medicine. The Minister commended AIIA for emerging as a leading institution in this transformation. He noted that since its dedication to the nation by the Prime Minister in 2017, the Institute has strengthened its academic and clinical capabilities, earned NAAC A++ accreditation, expanded its specialised outpatient services and advanced its research infrastructure.

Emphasising the significance of KAUMARACON-2026, Jadhav said that child health must remain a national priority and that India’s classical Ayurvedic knowledge offers valuable perspectives on preventive healthcare, maternal and child nutrition, growth and development. He underscored the importance of combining this traditional knowledge with contemporary scientific methods to establish credible, safe and effective approaches to paediatric healthcare.