National Academy of Medical Sciences, India
1961
National Academy of Medical Sciences (India) is a unique institution which fosters and utilizes academic excellence as its resource to meet medical and social goals. It was registered as the 'Indian Academy of Medical Sciences' on 21st April, 1961 under Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860. It was inaugurated at New Delhi on 19th December 1961 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. The first Convocation of the Academy was held on 8th December, 1963 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi and the Convocation Address was delivered by none other than Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, the then President of India. The Academy was re-named National Academy of Medical Sciences (India) on 16th November, 1976 on the recommendations of a Working Group set up by the Govt. of India. The official address of the Academy is: NAMS House, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029.
A Council Manages affair of the Academy. The Council consists of not more than 22 members including Office Bearers. Officers of the Academy include President, Treasurer, Immediate Past President and Vice President. The Academy has been recognised by the Government of India as a Nodal Agency for Continuing Education for Medical and Allied Health Professionals and is advising the Government of India in matters of National Health Policy and Planning.
The Academy encourages and sponsors nation-wide CME programmes, Symposia, Workshops etc. Over the years the Academy has recognized the outstanding achievements made by the Indian scientists in the field of medicine and allied sciences and conferred Fellowship as well as Membership to the selected persons through a peer reviewed process and finally voting by all the Fellows. As on 31st March, 2018, the Academy has 3 Honorary Fellows, 904 Fellows and 8007 Members (2036 MAMS and 5971 MNAMS) on its rolls.
The NAMS has also made significant efforts to improve the reach of CME programmes by establishing tele-linkages between some Medical Colleges. NAMS has been also connected with the National Knowledge Network (NKN). The Academy has organized a large number of successful Symposia on a number of important topics. Abstracts of the articles printed in the Annals are also put in the public domain on the website of the Academy. The Journals, Annals of NAMS serves as a very important tool for dissemination of recent advances to its Fellows and Members. It contains editorial, peer reviewed articles, review articles, manuscripts of Orations delivered by eminent Biomedical Scientists etc. The Academy also confers Honorary Fellowship on very important persons. NAMS has recognized eminent Senior Fellows by designating them as Emeritus Professors of NAMS. Life Achievement Awards are also conferred by NAMS.
The Academy also elects very eminent persons as Honorary Fellows. The list of eminent persons who have been conferred Honorary Fellowship of the Academy includes Shri Jawahar Lal Nehru, Dr. BC Roy, Major Gen. SL Bhatia, Col. RN Chopra, Dr HM Lazarus, Dr. Jivaraj N Mehta, Dr. A Lakshamanswami Mudaliar, Dr. NA Purandare, Maj Gen SS Sokey, Dr. AC Ukil, Dr Sushila Nayar, Smt. Indira Gandhi, Dr. VTH Gunaratne, Dr. Karan Singh, Dr. Ihsan Dogramaci, Dr. FC Robbins, Dr. U Ko Ko, Dr. Dharmendra, Shri PV Narasimha Rao, Prof. Rolf Luft, Dr. CP Thakur and Dr. PK Sethi. The Academy is proud of the fact that Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, an eminent Scientist and former President of India, is one of its Fellows.
A number of prestigious Orations and Awards have been instituted by the Academy and are bestowed upon eminent bio-medical scientists in recognition of their outstanding contributions. NAMS-AIIMS Collegium has been established with the newly created All India Institutes of Medical Sciences at Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur and Rishikesh. A NAMS Centre for Research in Medical Education has been established this year at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur. NAMS also supports the Medical Scientists' Exchange Programme under which junior and middle level specialists/scientists are encouraged to go to established centres of excellence and acquire newer skills. Every year, during the NAMS Annual Conference, a Scientific Symposium is organized on a topic of great relevance to the health care needs of the country.
