Dr Harsh vardhan is an indian otorhinolaryngologist and former minister of science and Technology, Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Minister of Earth Sciences. He was elected to the office of Chairperson of Executive Board of the World Health Organization from May 22, 2020. He joined politics with the laudable objective of using his considerable medical knowledge and experience for serving the masses. He had pioneered the Pulse Polio Programme in India.

HIS Contribution to Healthcare Landscape in India ;

Dr Harsh Vardhan as the State Minister of Health in 1994 oversaw the successful implementation of the pilot project of the Pulse Polio Programme, which involved the mass immunisation of 1.2 million children up to the age of 3 in Delhi. On 28th March 2014, India was declared polio-free by the WHO, as there had been no reported cases for three years.

Change-Making Positions Held ;

In 1997, the Delhi Prohibition of Smoking and Non-Smokers Health Protection Act was passed when he was Minister of Health and Family Affairs, Govt. of Delhi. This was one of the first anti-tobacco laws implemented by any state government in India. He launched the Matri Suraksha Programme to ensure proper mother and childcare for Delhi's middle, and lower-income groups His administration also launched the Healthy City Project, the Hepatitis B Immunisation Programme and a Delhi Research Centre for Modernised Promotion of Ayurveda.

Laurels Brought to Dr Harsh Vardhan ;

* IMA President's Special Award of Appreciation by the Indian Medical Association in 1994.

* Director-General's Polio Eradication Champion Award Commendation Medal by the World Health Organization in 1998.

* Polio Eradication Champion Award by the Rotary International in 2001.

* Awarded 'Doctor of the last Decade' (Swasthya Ratna) by Indian Medical Association's New Delhi branch in 2002.

* Received the Vocational Excellence Award by the Rotary Club of Delhi.

* Received the National Environmental Seva Samman at the 1996 World Environment Congress.

Impact Brought in Lives of Common Indians ;

Dr Harsh Vardhan went around the country persuading the Health Ministers of all states to cooperate in making Pulse Polio a success.