Saushrutam 2026, the three-day international seminar organised by the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), under the Ministry of Ayush, ended on July 17, bringing together leading experts from India and several countries to discuss the evolution of Ayurvedic surgery and its integration with contemporary surgical sciences.

Inaugurated on July 15 by President of India Droupadi Murmu, with a pre-conference workshop on July 14, the seminar marked Sushruta Jayanti, commemorated the surgical legacy of Acharya Sushruta, and encouraged evidence-based research and academic collaboration.

National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) Chairperson Vaidya Maneesha Kothekar and South Delhi Member of Parliament Ramvir Singh Bidhuri were the chief guests at the valedictory ceremony. NCISM Board of Ethics and Registration President Dr. Sushrut Kanaujia and Padma Shri awardee Prof. Manoranjan Sahu were among the guests of honour.

Addressing the gathering, Kothekar underscored the importance of organising such academic events regularly, saying they provide valuable exposure to students and strengthen professional engagement in Ayurveda. She also noted that such initiatives contribute to wider recognition of Ayurvedic practitioners as skilled surgeons alongside their role as physicians and reaffirmed the Commission's support for strengthening Ayurvedic education and practice.

AIIA Director Prof. (Vaidya) P.K. Prajapati said Saushrutam 2026 was envisioned as an international platform to facilitate scientific dialogue, promote evidence-based surgical practices, encourage technological innovation, and strengthen collaboration between Ayurveda and modern surgical sciences. He said the initiative seeks to foster research, innovation, and excellence in surgical education.

Organising Chairman Prof. (Dr.) Yogesh Badwe said the institute remains committed to enhancing the quality of surgical practice in Ayurveda and strengthening the Ayurvedic surgical community through global academic platforms.

During the closing ceremony, AIIA honoured international resource persons for their contributions to the seminar. The institute also renewed its Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi for another five years to continue collaborative research and innovation.

The event also featured the release of the third edition of Ayushvallari, the annual Hindi magazine of AIIA's Rajbhasha Department. A public awareness publication on eye diseases titled Neetra Rogya: Samanya Jankari aur Niwaran was also launched, along with the official souvenir of Saushrutam 2026.

Academicians and surgeons representing Thailand, Israel, Austria, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal, Greece, and India were present. More than 30 national experts, including Padma Shri awardees Prof M Sahu and Prof K Thakral, shared their expertise alongside faculty members from institutions such as AIIA, the Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, the National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, and the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar.

Modern surgical specialists from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI), Lucknow, Government Medical College Agartala, and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital also participated in the deliberations, contributing to discussions aimed at promoting multidisciplinary collaboration between Ayurveda and contemporary surgical sciences.

The valedictory programme was attended by AIIA Dean (PhD) Prof (Dr) Mahesh Vyas, Dean (PG) Prof (Dr) RK Yadav, Organising Secretary Dr Vyasadeva Mahanta, and senior faculty members.

According to the organisers, Saushrutam 2026 sought to strengthen the integration of traditional Ayurvedic knowledge with modern scientific advancements while supporting the Ministry of Ayush's vision of an evidence-based and holistic healthcare system.