Arogya World, B.PAC join hands to transform Bengaluru into world’s first Arogya City
Bengaluru, Nov. 13: In a major public health milestone, the Arogya City initiative has reached 12 lakh (1.2 million) residents of Bengaluru with screening, early detection and preventive healthcare services for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) over the past two years.
The achievement was announced at the third edition of the Arogya City Summit 2026, organised here on Friday by Arogya World and Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC).
The initiative aims to make Bengaluru the world’s first Arogya City by creating a collaborative ecosystem involving government agencies, corporates, healthcare institutions, civil society organisations and communities to prevent lifestyle-related diseases including diabetes, hypertension, obesity and cancer.
As part of the Arogya City programme, 32 organisations worked between 2024 and 2026 to provide NCD screening, early diagnosis and preventive health services to 1.2 million Bengalureans.
‘One Ward’ initiative launched
The Summit also witnessed the launch of the ‘One Ward’ Initiative, a focused programme aimed at strengthening NCD screening at the ward level and building a health data-driven approach for preventive healthcare planning.
In the third phase of the initiative, 40 organisations have joined hands to expand screening and prevention activities, with a collective target of reaching over 15 lakh Bengalureans.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Nalini Saligram, Founder and CEO of Arogya World, said that improving public health requires collective efforts from all sections of society.
“Public health cannot be the responsibility of a single organisation. Government, companies, civil society, educational institutions, start-ups and communities must work together. We have already reached 1.2 million people and our next goal is to screen 1.5 million people,” she said.
A panel discussion held during the Summit featured Dr. Rajani Surendar Bhat, Consultant, Interventional Pulmonology and Palliative Medicine, SPARSH Hospital, and Dr. Arvind Kasthuri, M.D. Community Medicine, St. John’s Medical College & Hospital.
The experts deliberated on the crucial role of healthcare professionals in preventing and managing Non-Communicable Diseases and creating a healthier urban population.
— Report by : AMARESHANNA KAMANAKERI
