Padma Shri Prof Rajendra Prasad is champion of TB elimination

Lucknow: It is a moment of pride, obligation and humility, said Prof Rajendra Prasad after receiving the Padma Shri from President Droupadi Murmu for his contribution to medicine and pulmonary care, dedicating the honour to collective efforts of his teachers, colleagues and students who shaped his journey.Born in a UP village, Prof Prasad completed medical education from King George’s Medical College and joined its department of tuberculosis in 1976.At KGMU, he played a major role in developing pulmonary medicine as a separate speciality. He was instrumental in transforming the tuberculosis department into the pulmonary medicine department.Recipient of the prestigious Dr B C Roy Award, Prof Prasad received advanced training in pulmonary medicine, fibre-optic bronchoscopy and lung cancer management in Japan. He later served as head of pulmonary medicine at KGMU, director of Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, Delhi, and director of UP Rural Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Saifai.He played a key role in the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) and helped integrate around 700 medical colleges into the programme.Prof Prasad has supervised over 200 studies and published around 600 research papers, reviews and book chapters. He has also authored 17 books related to pulmonary medicine and tuberculosis.Over the years, he received more than 80 awards and honours, including lifetime achievement awards from several national medical organisations.