LG calls for investment in women’s health

Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu inaugurated the 48th Annual Conference of the Association of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Delhi (AOGD) on Sunday. On the occasion, the LG said that investment in women’s health is an investment in India’s human capital and future, and urged Delhi to emerge as a hub for medical research, training and public-health leadership, not just advanced treatment.

The event was attended by FOGSI President Dr Bhaskar Pal, AOGD President Prof Neena Malhotra, AOGD Vice-President Prof Neeta Singh, AOGD Secretary General Prof K Aparna Sharma, and other distinguished guests.
Sandhu said Delhi, home to some of India’s leading medical institutions, carried a particular responsibility, with the opportunity to serve as a centre not only for advanced medical treatment but also for research, innovation and training in the healthcare sector. 

Referring to this year’s conference theme, “With HER: Heal, Empower, Respect, Every Step of the Way,” Sandhu said it captured the need for a life-course approach to women’s healthcare, spanning every stage from adolescence and reproductive health through pregnancy, childbirth and ageing. He said women’s healthcare must move beyond maternal care alone to bring together prevention, early diagnosis, clinical care, research and awareness.
Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remark that mothers, sisters and women power form the main basis of the nation’s progress, Sandhu said women’s health remained central to India’s social and economic development, since healthy women are better positioned to participate in education, employment, entrepreneurship and nation-building.

Sandhu acknowledged India’s progress in maternal and reproductive healthcare but flagged persisting challenges, including anaemia, high-risk pregnancies and cancers affecting women, alongside continuing disparities in access to quality care. He said it was equally important to encourage women to seek medical advice early rather than waiting until symptoms worsen, describing doctors as serving not only as healthcare providers but also as educators and trusted sources of information for patients.

Speaking on the role of technology in healthcare, Sandhu pointed to the growing use of artificial intelligence, advanced imaging, telemedicine and data-driven research in improving diagnosis and personalised care. 
He stressed that such research must remain rooted in India’s own population and healthcare needs, and called for greater collaboration among hospitals, medical institutions, universities and policymakers to translate research knowledge into better clinical outcomes, adding that conferences of this kind create valuable opportunities for such exchange.

Addressing young doctors and postgraduate trainees at the event, Sandhu described the current period as one of extraordinary opportunity and responsibility, requiring continuous learning and adaptation to new technologies, alongside empathy and an understanding of the person behind each patient.

Sandhu underlined the public-health dimension of women’s healthcare, saying awareness on nutrition, reproductive health, vaccination and cancer screening must reach women across all sections of society, so that advances in medical science translate into tangible benefits for every woman, regardless of background.

Concluding his address, Sandhu expressed confidence that the conference would generate new ideas and help identify practical approaches to improving women’s health outcomes across the city and beyond.
The AOGD conference brings together obstetricians, gynaecologists and healthcare professionals from across Delhi for annual discussions on emerging practices, research and challenges in women’s healthcare, with this year’s edition placing particular emphasis on a comprehensive, life-stage approach to treatment and awareness.