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Dr. Sunita Tandulwadkar, an internationally recognised infertility specialist, endoscopic surgeon, and gynaecologist, was officially appointed as the 63rd President of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) during a historic ceremony at the 67th All India Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (AICOG 2025), held at the Jio World Convention Centre.
In her new role, Dr. Tandulwadkar is determined to address critical issues in women's health across India, focusing on increasing healthcare accessibility, promoting education, and emphasising preventive care.
“It is both an honour and a responsibility to lead an organisation as influential as FOGSI, which represents over 46,000 obstetricians and gynaecologists across 277 societies in India,” said Dr. Tandulwadkar. “This presidency provides an unparalleled opportunity to launch initiatives that empower women with knowledge and resources, ensuring healthier lives and stronger communities. Through programs like Sampoorna: Swastha Janma Abhiyan, Know Your Numbers, and Do Teeke Zindagi Ke, we aim to create lasting change by prioritising proactive health management and early interventions," she added.
Despite recent advancements, India continues to face significant challenges in women’s health, which require immediate attention. Key areas of concern include:
Maternal Health and Mortality: The maternal mortality rate in India remains high due to insufficient awareness about pre-conceptional care and inadequate antenatal checkups.
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and anaemia are increasingly affecting women, exacerbated by poor lifestyle habits and limited access to healthcare.
Cervical Cancer: India has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer globally, largely due to insufficient awareness of preventive measures like HPV vaccination.
Access to Healthcare: Women in rural and underserved areas often face limited access to healthcare services, leading to untreated conditions like PCOS, fibroids, and reproductive health issues.
Reproductive Health Awareness: Many women lack education about reproductive health, leading to delayed diagnoses of conditions such as endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and infertility.
Dr. Tandulwadkar’s initiatives aim to address these challenges head-on, ensuring that women across the country not only have access to essential healthcare services but are also empowered to take control of their own health.
Dr. Tandulwadkar unveiled several groundbreaking initiatives that she will spearhead during her tenure as FOGSI President:
Sampoorna: Swastha Janma Abhiyan: A nationwide campaign focused on pre-conceptional care to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality. The initiative aims to reach over 1 million women, improving awareness about managing key health indicators and promoting planned pregnancies.
Know Your Numbers: This transformative health data collection initiative seeks to gather crucial health statistics from over 1 million women. The initiative will help identify early signs of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and anaemia, preventing health complications in approximately 10 lakh women annually.
Do Teeke Zindagi Ke: A large-scale project designed to combat cervical cancer through increased awareness about screening and HPV vaccination. The initiative aims to reach 5 million women and girls, aiming to increase HPV vaccination rates by 30 per cent in key regions over the next year.
