Bhubaneswar, October 11, 2025: AIIMS Bhubaneswar, in collaboration with the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, successfully hosted the 2nd National Conclave on Travel Health Clinics (THCs). The two-day event concluded on Friday, bringing together health leaders, policymakers, and medical experts to discuss the critical importance of travel health in the context of increasing national and international mobility.
A Nationwide Vision for Travel Health
Delivering the inaugural address, Dr. Ashutosh Biswas, Executive Director & CEO, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, emphasized the urgent need to scale up Travel Health Clinics across the country. He proposed a hub-and-spoke model with AIIMS Bhubaneswar as the central training and coordination hub, guiding other regional clinics and enabling efficient knowledge-sharing and operational support.
“Travel medicine is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity,” Dr. Biswas stated. “In an interconnected world, strengthening travel health infrastructure ensures our preparedness for health risks that emerge beyond borders.”
Expert Insights: In-Transit Care and Policy Integration
One of the key highlights was a session by Dr. S. Senthilnathan, Deputy Director General (Public Health – International Health), DGHS, who explored the feasibility of in-travel medical care. He pointed out that with the right training, paramedical staff and health workers can effectively manage basic health conditions during travel — even in the absence of on-board doctors.
“Preparedness in transit is as critical as at the point of departure or arrival,” said Dr. Senthilnathan, emphasizing the scope of expanding healthcare accessibility across all modes of transport.
The conclave also featured Dr. Bisworanjan Dash, Public Health Specialist, Airport Health Organization (APHO), Bhubaneswar, who brought valuable insights on the role of airport-based health units and the need for enhanced coordination between airport authorities and travel health clinics, especially for screening and vaccination of outbound travelers.
Joining the dialogue, Dr. Suchitra Sasmal, Senior Regional Director, Regional Office of Health & Family Welfare (RoHFW), Bhubaneswar, highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration at the regional level to effectively roll out Travel Health Clinics across urban and rural geographies.
Showcasing Odisha’s First Travel Health Clinic
In 2023, AIIMS Bhubaneswar’s Department of Community and Family Medicine established Odisha’s first Travel Health Clinic, making it one of the pioneering institutes in the country to offer specialized care for travelers. The clinic provides services such as pre-travel consultations, vaccinations, risk assessments for international travel, and emergency preparedness training — setting a national benchmark.
Who Participated?
The conclave brought together representatives from:
- Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
- Ministry of External Affairs
- Ministry of Defence
- Directorate General of Shipping
- National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
- 16 AIIMS institutions and multiple state medical colleges
Dignitaries included:
- Dr. Madhabananda Kar, Executive Director, AIIMS Darbhanga
- Dr. Sachidananda Mohanty, Executive Director, AIIMS Avantipora
- Dr. Sanjay K. Rai, Professor, AIIMS Delhi
- Commander Kaushik Roy, Ministry of Defence
- Dr. Ramya P, Director General, Shipping
- Dr. Meera Dhuria, Joint Director, NCDC
- Dr. Vikas Bhatia, HOD, CM & FM, AIIMS Bhubaneswar
- Dr. Sonu Hangma Subba and Dr. Swayam Pragyan Parida, AIIMS Bhubaneswar
The diverse participation underscored the need for cross-sector collaboration to effectively tackle health challenges arising from national and international travel.
The Way Forward: Research, Policy, and Training
Panel discussions and live demonstrations at the event reinforced the need for:
- Standardized training in travel medicine
- Structured curricula for healthcare workers
- Research-based policy formulation
- Digital surveillance systems for monitoring disease spread via travel routes
The event concluded with a strong consensus that Travel Health Clinics are essential not just for disease prevention but also for enhancing India’s public health resilience during global health emergencies.
Conclusion
The 2nd National Conclave hosted by AIIMS Bhubaneswar reaffirmed India’s commitment to advancing travel health as a core part of its public health strategy. With increasing international travel and the ever-present threat of pandemics, building a national network of Travel Health Clinics will be critical in protecting the health of travelers — and by extension, the nation.
AIIMS Bhubaneswar is leading this movement with vision, innovation, and collaboration — setting a roadmap for the future of travel health in India.