Chandigarh:- The *10-day International Nursing Leadership and Management Program was inaugurated today at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. The programme is being organized by the *Department of *Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, under the International Public Health Management Development Program (IPHMDP) , with the support of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) , Government of India, under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) framework.
 A total of 48 senior nursing professionals from 19 countries are participating in the programme. The participating countries include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Maldives, Nepal, Oman, Palestine, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, Sr Lanka, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.*
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Prof. Sonu Goel, Program Director, IPHMDP, and Professor, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh. Addressing the international delegates, Prof. Goel highlighted the pivotal role of nursing professionals in strengthening healthcare systems and emphasized the importance of leadership, innovation, and international collaboration in addressing emerging global health challenges. He welcomed the delegates to PGIMER and encouraged them to utilize the programme as a platform for mutual learning, professional networking, and sharing of best practices.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Kritika Upadhyay, Program Coordinator emphasized that the programme reflects India's commitment to global health cooperation through capacity building and knowledge sharing. He stated that, guided by the philosophy of " Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" ( The World is One Family), India continues to strengthen partnerships with fellow developing nations by sharing successful, scalable, and evidence-based healthcare practices that can be adapted across diverse health systems. During the ten-day training, delegates will participate in interactive lectures, case discussions, group activities, simulation exercises, and field visits to various centres of excellence at PGIMER.
 The participants will visit the Institute's Green Hospital Initiative, Telemedicine and Tele-Evidence Centre, Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (ROTTO), Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD), ART/DOT Centre, and other model healthcare facilities. They will also gain exposure to India's flagship public health initiatives, including the Ayushman Bharat programme and best practices in primary healthcare delivery. Educational visits to Fortis Hospital and Chitkara University have also been planned to showcase innovations in nursing education and healthcare management.
The International Public Health Management Development Program (IPHMDP) is India's only international leadership and management programme offered by a medical institution for healthcare professionals from ITEC partner countries. Since its inception, the programme has trained more than 1,750 healthcare professionals from 97 countries, emerging as an important platform for South-South cooperation and global health diplomacy. Through such initiatives, PGIMER continues to contribute to strengthening health systems worldwide by promoting evidence-based leadership, collaborative learning, and sustainable healthcare practices.