On January 12, 2025, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Bengaluru and the Physicians Association for Nutrition India (PAN India) will hold their historic 30th Continuing Medical Education (CME) seminar in Bengaluru. Leading medical experts, researchers, and legislators will gather at the event, which aims to transform the role of nutrition in healthcare nationwide, to talk about the vital role that nutrition plays in both preventing and treating non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Dr Rajeena Shahin, Medical Director, said, “PAN India is part of the global NGO Physicians Association for Nutrition (PAN) International, is a non-profit medical network dedicated to providing evidence-based knowledge on healthy nutrition to reduce diet-related deaths and promote planetary health. We are committed to integrating evidence-based nutrition interventions into the healthcare system. To support this mission, we conduct CMEs and workshops across India to educate and empower doctors. Doctors can engage with us in various capacities to spread the mission & advance the field. With three city chapters established—Bangalore being the first—we aim to drive our mission through passionate and committed doctors in each city.”
The transformative role of physicians in public health through plant-based nutrition was highlighted by Dr. Mahesh K. Mahadevappa, Secretary, IMA-Bangalore branch and Director of PAN India, and Dr. Prathima Kini, Chairperson of PAN Bengaluru Chapter. To promote healthier eating habits and enhance health outcomes, they emphasized the importance of self-education, setting an example, and supporting the inclusion of medical curricula in workshops, seminars, and other events. Distinguished subject-matter experts will lead workshops, panel discussions, and keynote addresses at the next event. The medical community attending the CME will learn important lessons about how diet-related interventions can improve global health and drastically lower mortality rates.
India’s growing NCD prevalence, especially among working-age individuals, highlights the urgent need for a paradigm change in the nation’s healthcare system. A nutrition-first approach is necessary to improve public health outcomes and protect India’s economic and social fabric, as research shows that unhealthy diets account for 56% of the disease burden.
Since 2000, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have surpassed communicable diseases in Karnataka, accounting for over 62% of the state’s disease burden. Cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension, stroke, and coronary artery disease, are the main causes of death in Bangalore, according to clinical data from hospitals and health centers participating in the National Health Mission’s NPCDCS program. These conditions show a consistent increase in NCDs among people over 30. Sadly, hypertension affects one in three Karnataka residents, according to an ICMR study.
