Chandigarh, 5 October 2026: The 7th Annual National Conference of the Epidemiology Foundation of India (EFICon 2026) concluded today, marking the culmination of three days of scientific deliberations, knowledge exchange and multidisciplinary dialogue on the theme “Data to Decisions for Responsive and Resilient Health Systems.” The conference was organised from 2–4 October 2026 by the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER,Chandigarh, in collaboration with Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest, Prof. Yadgvender Pal Verma emphasised the growing importance of developing research capacities among young professionals. He said, “Building a generation of young researchers with the ability to learn from data and translate evidence into policy-oriented research is an emerging need for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

”The valedictory ceremony was also graced by Dr. Umesh Kapil, President, Epidemiology Foundation of India (EFI), who underscored the importance of generating timely, reliable and trustworthy data and ensuring its effective translation into public health decisions. “Our Department takes pride in hosting this much-needed conference, which takes the use of data to the next level and brings experts,researchers and practitioners onto one platform,” said Dr. Arun K. Aggarwal, Head, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, and Organising Chairperson,

EFICon 2026. Highlighting the academic contributions of the conference, Prof. Sonu Goel, Professor, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, and Organising Secretary, EFICon 2026, said that the conference provided multiple platforms for researchers topresent and discuss their work through panel discussions, symposiums, plenary sessions, oralpresentations and poster presentations. The delegates were recognised through various awards,including the Abhaya Indrayan Award, Senior Scientist Award, Young Scientist Award, Senior Research Award, Young Research Award, Early Career Research Award and Budding Researcher
Award.

The three-day event brought together around 500 delegates and participants and 150 eminent national experts and speakers from leading institutions and organisations, including AIIMS, ICMR, NITI Aayog, WHO, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, State Health Departments, medical colleges, research institutions and public health organisations. The conference featured more than 40 technical sessions, in which key outcomes were “EFICon 2026 Conference Recommendations,” on need to develop authentic and robust health databases, strengthen research on emerging and re-emerging diseases, promote digital and technological innovations, advance environmental epidemiology, strengthen evidence-informed policymaking, standardise healthcare delivery and
address emerging public health challenges.