12th Annual National Conference of AIAMSWP Inaugurated at Assam down town University

Guwahati, 30 September 2026: The 12th Annual National Conference of the All India Association of Medical Social Work Professionals (AIAMSWP) was inaugurated today at Assam down town University (AdtU), Guwahati, bringing together medical social work professionals, academicians, healthcare practitioners, researchers, and students from across India.
The two-days annual national conference is being organised by the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, Assam down town University, in collaboration with down town Hospital, Guwahati, and supported by the Indian Council of Social Science Research – North Eastern Regional Centre (ICSSR-NERC), on 30 September and 1 October 2026.
The conference is being held on the theme “Medical Social Work as a Catalyst for Viksit Bharat: Integrating Indigenous Knowledge, Ethics and Holistic Healthcare.” The theme focuses on the evolving role of medical social work in promoting patient-centred care, professional ethics, psychosocial support, indigenous knowledge, and holistic approaches to healthcare.
The inaugural session commenced with the lighting of the lamp, followed by the welcome address by Dr. Prateeti Barman, Dean (i/c), Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, Assam down town University, and Convener of the 12th Annual National Conference, AIAMSWP.
The Chief Guest, Prof. Ashok Puranik, Executive Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Guwahati, formally inaugurated the conference and addressed the gathering. He highlighted the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to healthcare and the role of social work professionals in addressing the social and psychosocial dimensions of health.
The Guest of Honour, Prof. Sonia Pereira Deuri, Professor & Head, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, LGBRIMH, Tezpur, Assam, also addressed the gathering and highlighted the importance of professional social work practice in mental healthcare and the need for holistic and ethical approaches to supporting individuals, families, and communities.
The Vice-Chancellor of Assam down town University, Prof. N.C. Talukdar, addressed the gathering and emphasised the significance of academic and professional collaboration in strengthening healthcare education and practice.
The inaugural session was chaired by Ms. Gariasi Dutta, Chairperson, 12th Annual National Conference, AIAMSWP. The session also featured addresses by Sh. Raghavendra Kumar Rai, General Secretary, AIAMSWP, Sh. Akhilesh Kumar Tripathi, Vice President, AIAMSWP, and Dr. Udayan Baruah, Medical Superintendent, down town Hospital, Guwahati.
A significant highlight of the inaugural programme was the release of the Conference Souvenir and AIAMSWP Newsletter, marking an important occasion for academic and professional knowledge sharing.
One of the major academic components of the conference is the Symposium on Strengthening Healthcare Education and Professional Standards ,topic:“Strengthening the Education, Training and Professional Standards of Allied and Healthcare Professions for a Competent and Future Healthcare Workforce.”
The symposium was chaired by Prof. Sonia Pereira Deuri, Professor & Head, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, LGBRIMH, Tezpur, Assam. Aftab Alam Shah, Medical Social Welfare Officer, Grade 1, AIIMS, New Delhi, and Dr. R. Jayalakshmi, Medical Social Worker, Department of Emergency Medicine, JIPMER, Puducherry, serve as Co-chairpersons. Kamalika Bhattacharjee, Psychiatric Social Worker, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, Institute of Psychiatry, CoE, Kolkata, was the Moderator.
The resource persons for the symposium were Dr. Pomi Mahanta, Assistant Professor, TISS Guwahati, and Rituporna Dhar, Medico Social Service Officer Grade 1, AIIMS, Guwahati.
Another important academic component was the Panel Discussion on Mental Health and Holistic Healthcare,topic: “Beyond Physical Health: Integrating Mental Health into Holistic Healthcare through the AB-PMJAY Framework.”
The panel was chaired by Prof. Dr. N. Janardhana, Head, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, Karnataka.
The Co-chairpersons are Prof. Om Prakash Singh, Professor, Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and Dr. Shankar Mugave, Head of Department, Department of Medical Social Service, Superintendent, B. J. Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, Pune.
R. Vijay Kumar, Medical Social Worker, Community Medicine, Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, Hassan, Karnataka, served as the Moderator.
The resource persons for the panel discussion included Leema Maiti, MSWO In-charge, AB-PMJAY, AIIMS, New Delhi, Mr. Himanshu Dixit, Medical Social Service Officer, Grade 1, Medical Social Welfare Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, and Mr. Manish Kumar Pathak, Medical Social Service Officer, Grade 1, Medical Social Welfare Unit, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur.
Scholars and researchers from across the country have presented their research papers and share their academic and professional experiences on various contemporary issues related to medical social work, psychiatric social work, healthcare, psychosocial care, professional ethics, indigenous knowledge, mental health, and holistic healthcare.
The conference also included a poster presentation, providing researchers and scholars with an opportunity to visually present their research findings, ideas, and professional work.
These academic sessions are expected to facilitate meaningful discussions, exchange of knowledge, sharing of research findings, and professional networking among participants from different institutions and healthcare organisations.
The conference provided a national platform for professionals, academicians, researchers, healthcare practitioners, and students to deliberate on contemporary issues and emerging developments in medical social work. The academic discussions focus on areas including medical social work, psychiatric social work, indigenous knowledge, professional ethics, psychosocial care, holistic healthcare, and the contribution of social work towards nation-building.
The academic proceedings will continue on 1 October 2026, with four more technical sessions, paper presentations and other academic activities, followed by the valedictory session.
The conference seeks to strengthen collaboration among academic institutions, healthcare organisations, and professional bodies while providing opportunities for the exchange of professional experiences and research findings.