Pune: The city will host its first-ever Health Literature Conference as part of the Pune Health Festival on November 19, 2025, at the Bal Gandharva Rangmandir. The event is being jointly organized by the Rugna Hakka Parishad, the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, and the Charitable Hospitals Help Cell (Mumbai), along with the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal. The conference will be inaugurated at 9 am by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, informed Umesh Chavan, chairman of the reception committee.
Chavan announced that renowned pediatric and laparoscopic surgeon and writer Dr Sanjay Oak has been elected as the president of the maiden Health Literature Conference. He also declared that the prestigious ‘Maharashtra Arogya Bhushan Award 2025’ will be conferred on the well-known Melghat-based social activists and medical couple, Padma Shri Dr Smita Kolhe and Dr Ravindra Kolhe. The award carries a cash prize of ₹1 lakh and a citation.
The day-long conference will feature a wide range of programmes, including literary reviews on health, panel discussions, symposia, poetry sessions, music events, lectures, book releases, and a souvenir launch. The CM will also inaugurate a mobile health clinic initiative.
Prominent medical professionals such as Dr Jagannath Dixit, Dr Pramod Jog, Dr Pradeep Awate, PMC health chief Dr Neena Borade, and deputy director of health Dr Bhagwan Pawar are among the participants. Around 25,000 citizens are expected to benefit from free medical consultations, medicines, treatment, and surgery camps to be conducted by reputed doctors during the festival.
Expressing his gratitude, Dr Sanjay Oak said, “It is a matter of great honour to be chosen as president of this unique Health Literature Conference. This role brings with it added responsibility as we bring together health, literature, and social services on one platform.”
