Profile
Dr Rajiv Bahl is a physician-scientist, with specialization in paediatrics (MD Pediatrics: University of Delhi) and public health (PhD: All India Institute of Medical Sciences). He received an Honorary Doctorate from University of Bergen, Norway, in 2022 in recognition of his contributions to maternal and child health research.
Dr Bahl has demonstrated leadership in health research and translating research to public health policy both in India and at a global level over the past three decades. His prolific scholarly output includes over 250 papers in peer reviewed journals and an H-Index of 78 that positions him among top 1.25% scientists in the world across all disciplines.
Dr Bahl has been serving as the Secretary, Department of Health Research & Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) since 7th October, 2022. Prior to this, he held the position of Head of Research on Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health at the World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva (2013-22) and was responsible for Newborn and Child Health research at WHO (2003-2012). Earlier in his career, Dr. Bahl was a scientist in the ICMR Advanced Centre for Diarrheal Disease and Nutrition Research at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi (1994-2002).
His expertise includes setting the research agenda, conceptualizing and implementing research studies with excellence, data analysis and translating research findings into public health policy and programmes. Dr Bahl has been instrumental in overseeing population-based, multi-country research studies in over 20 countries in Asia and Africa and has contributed to strengthening research capacity in over 50 institutions.
Research conducted and coordinated by Dr Bahl has had significant impact on health policy and programmes, and has the potential of saving over 10,00,000 lives every year. His notable contributions to major innovations for newborn and child health includes use of zinc in treatment of diarrhea, early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding, outpatient treatment of newborns with severe infections and immediate initiation of Kangaroo Mother Care after birth in mother-newborn intensive care units.
