Dr VK Paul

Dr Vinod K. Paul is a globally recognised medical scientist and a public health exponent.

He served on the faculty of the Department of Paediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, from 1985 to 2020, and was Head of the Department for nearly a decade. 

The Government of India appointed Dr Paul as a Member of NITI Aayog in August 2017. At NITI, he leads the Health, Nutrition and HRD verticals. He has played a pivotal role in the formulation of key initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY, Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centre Scheme, and POSHAN Abhiyaan.

Dr Paul also served as the Chairman of the Board of Governors in supersession of the Medical Council of India in 2018-20. His tenure was recognised for a record increase in undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats, and the introduction of telemedicine guidelines, the district residency scheme, and a number of other reforms.

Dr Paul is part of the Union Government's core team for Covid-19 pandemic response. He chairs the Empowered Group on Medical Infrastructure and Covid Management Plan, the National Task Force on Covid-19 (ICMR) as well as the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC).

Dr Paul has over 400 scientific publications and an h-index of 62 to his credit. He was featured among the world’s top 2% scientists in the field of paediatrics, according to a study conducted by Stanford University in 2020. He is a Fellow of all the three science academies of the country.

Dr Paul is a recipient of the pre-eminent Dr BR Ambedkar Centenary Award for Excellence in Biomedical Research by ICMR. He was also conferred the prestigious Ihsan Dogramaci Family Health Foundation Prize by WHO at the 2018 World Health Assembly in recognition of his service in the field of family health.