Pune: BAVMC to Host Maharashtra State Health Summit 2026, Focus on Healthcare Policy and Doctor Safety
Reported by Radhika Sharma
Pune, 5th April 2026: At a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming industries, antimicrobial resistance is emerging as a serious threat to both human and animal health, and the widespread use of pesticides and herbicides continues to raise concerns about cancer, the need for a unified and forward-looking healthcare dialogue has become more urgent than ever.
Against this backdrop, the Maharashtra State Health Summit 2026 will be held on April 6 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Pune. The summit is being hosted by Pune Municipal Corporation’s Bharatratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College and Teaching Hospital (BAVMC) under the guiding theme, ‘Collaborative Governance Powered by Medicos’.
The initiative aims to bridge a crucial gap between medical students and policymakers. According to Abhishek Jagtap, general secretary of the organising committee, the summit has been designed to provide young medicos with a platform to directly engage with bureaucrats and decision-makers from across Maharashtra.
“The goal is to ensure that medical students are not just passive learners but active contributors to healthcare policy. We want them to present their perspectives and propose solutions to real-world challenges,” Jagtap said.
Discussions at the summit will focus on some of the most pressing issues in Maharashtra’s healthcare ecosystem. These include doctor safety, strengthening referral and patient tracking systems in remote districts, the eradication of tuberculosis, and improving the pricing and accessibility of essential vaccines such as HPV and Hepatitis B, particularly for healthcare workers.
The event is expected to witness participation from key political leaders, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Ajit Pawar, along with several ministers and senior bureaucrats.
Emphasising that the summit aims to go beyond dialogue, Jagtap said the focus remains firmly on actionable outcomes. “This is not just about raising awareness. The aim is to drive meaningful conversations that lead to implementation, whether through simple interventions or large-scale policy changes that can directly impact healthcare workers and citizens alike,” he said.
With its emphasis on collaboration, youth participation, and policy-level engagement, the Maharashtra State Health Summit 2026 seeks to position itself as a significant step towards reimagining healthcare governance in the state, where those at the forefront of the system actively shape its future.
