Prof (Dr.) Narendra Kumar Arora

Prof (Dr) Narendra Kumar Arora is the new president of AIIMS Bilaspur (H.P.). Dr Arora also served as the President of the AIIMS-Deoghar, Jharkhand (2020-2025) and AIIMS Patna, Bihar (2018-2022). Dr Arora was Professor of Paediatrics (Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition) at AIIMS-New Delhi till 2007. Since 2005, he is the Executive Director of The INCLEN Trust International and served as Executive Director of the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) from 2010 to 2014.

He is an accomplished medical professional who dedicated his career to advancing maternal & child health, infectious diseases & immunization, and public health policy, leaving a significant impact both nationally and internationally.

His international leadership includes pivotal roles at the World Health Organization (WHO): member of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) for Immunization (2010-2016), serving as Vice-Chair of STAGE from 2013-2016; member of the Global Advisory Committee for Vaccine Safety (GACVS) (2017-22); Co-chair of the WHO COVAX Independent Allocation of Vaccines Group (IAVG) (2021-2022); Member of the Expert Steering Committee on Safety Surveillance in Pregnancy in LMICs (2022-23); and Member of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group of Experts (STAGE) for Maternal, New-born, Child, Adolescent Health & Nutrition (2019-continuing). He has chaired and been member of several WHO working groups’ viz. GVAP, Measles & Rubella, Hepatitis E, PCV, Typhoid, Anaemia, Midwifery Care, Child Health Redesign Group, Kangaroo Care and Sick New-born.

Nationally, Dr Arora has been a core independent member of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) and its Standing Technical Sub-Committee (NTAGI-STSC). His crucial involvement during the COVID-19 pandemic saw him chairing the following groups: NTAGI Working Group for COVID-19 vaccine roll-out in India; Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 vaccine research; Task Force on COVID-19 operational research; Vaccine Data Analytics Group; and co-chair of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). He chairs the National Certification Committee for Polio Eradication (NCCPE) since 2014 and was its coordinator between 1998-and 2014; and chair of the National Verification Committee for Measles, Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome elimination. He also chairs the NTAGI working Groups on HPV, Maternal Immunization, National Pneumococcal Vaccine Expert Committee and the National Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) Committee for nearly a decade (2008-2018).

Dr. Arora leads various research initiatives focusing on clinical epidemiology, trials, program evaluation, health systems improvement and policy development. He established super-specialty Pediatric Gastroenterology & Hepatology in AIIMS New Delhi. He also led nationwide research priority setting for maternal, new-born, and child health and nutrition in India. He emphasizes training healthcare professionals in research methodologies and leadership, enhancing the overall quality of health research in the country. Dr Arora is involved in developing and implementing public health programs that address critical health issues, such as maternal and child health, chronic diseases and cancer screening. His work has influenced health policy decisions, ensuring that they are evidence-based and aligned with the needs of the population. He collaborates with national and international health organizations, fostering partnerships that enhance health research and interventions.

With an impressive publication record, Dr Arora has authored more than 200 research papers in reputed national and international journals. He has also contributed to 24 international and 15 national monographs, and 30 international and 19 national book chapters. Dr Arora has received numerous accolades and awards for his distinguished academic, clinical and research services.