Dr. Hrishikesh Pai - MD FRCOG (UK-HON) FCPS FICOG MSc (USA)

• President – FOGSI
• Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India, FOGSI
• Regional Trustee Asia – Oceania
• International Federation of Gynecology & Obstetrics, FIGO

Prof. Hrishikesh Pai is the President of FOGSI, Federation of Obstetric & Gynaecological Societies of India. He is also the Professor of Reproductive Medicine at D Y Patil University, Navi Mumbai, India. Dr. Pai is the Regional Trustee – Asia Oceania, International Federation of Gynecology & Obstetrics FIGO. He is a Reproductive Endocrinologist with 33 years of experience in assisted reproduction and endoscopic surgery. Until recently (April 2023), he was the Adjunct Assistant Professor in Clinical Embryology and Andrology at the Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, USA. Presently, he is the Steering Committee Member of WHO Global Summit on PPH, Member of FIGO Leadership Development Initiative Group and Sub-Committee Co-Lead of Innovation Equity Forum, Gates Foundation and National Institute of Health, USA.

Dr. Pai has conducted numerous conferences, workshops and TOTs in the field of gynaecology and assisted reproduction. He has been the Organizing Secretary of the World Conference of International Federation of Fertility Societies 2016. He is the Organising Secretary of the Best of ESHRE – ISAR IFS 2024 and the Scientific Chair of All India Conference of FOGSI 2025 in Mumbai, India. During his career, he has delivered 40+ orations and 800+ lectures. He has been Editor of 18+ books and contributed 65+ book chapters, published 42+ research papers and Series Editor of 20 GCPR (Good clinical practice guidelines) of FOGSI (OBGYN Society of India) 2023.

Dr. Pai has received 64 awards including Honorary FRCOG Fellowship ad eundem of the RCOG, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, UK in 2019, Eminent Physician Award National Indian Medical Association (IMA) 2022, Kanak Goel Community Service Award National IMA 2017, Indian Society for the Study of Reproduction and Fertility (ISSRF) Lifetime Achievement Award 2019 and Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction (ISAR) Lifetime Achievement Award 2020.

Dr. Pai has the rare distinction of having been President of many organizations in India such as IVF Society of India (ISAR), Indian Association of Gynaecological Endoscopists (IAGE), Mumbai OBGYN Society (MOGS) and Maharashtra Chapter of ISAR.

Dr. Pai’s role in the following programs has made immense impact towards women’s health at the ground level:

1. The internationally famous Manyata program for upgrading, skilling and certifying hospital facilities to provide high quality care was launched in 2017 by FOGSI, MSD for Mothers, McArthur Foundation and JHPIEGO and has certified more than 2000 hospitals in India till date. Dr. Pai has been the Chief Administrator of this program since its inception till today. Presently there are plans afoot to expand this international acclaimed successful program (published in Global Health: Science and Practice, December 2022) to maternity homes in other countries.
2. As FOGSI President, Dr. Pai has launched the Freedom from Anemia – Na Na Anemia Campaign and Roadshow. Dr. Pai personally travelled and the campaign has covered more than 5000 miles by road, covered 28+ cities, educated more than 60 million people, tested and treated 2,00,000 women for iron deficiency anemia in India. Dr. Pai plans to expand this project in Asia, Africa, Latin America and some parts of Europe, with the help of FIGO. This Roadshow is being conducted with the aid of a large red-colored bus and a big van on which a LED has been mounted to give out women’s health related messages. Numerous public forums and continuing medical education workshops are also being conducted during this Roadshow.
3. During his tenure as Secretary General of FOGSI in 2016, Dr. Pai has launched PMSMA (Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan) scheme in association with Indian Medical Association and the Government of India. This scheme is mainly meant for offering free antenatal check-up for pregnant women on 9th of each month by private practitioners on a voluntary basis. About 40 million pregnant women have been examined under PMSMA till now.
4. Dr. Pai has recently launched the Cervical Cancer Project in association with American Cancer Society in India – An Evidence-based Program to Increase HPV Vaccine Recommendation and Delivery Among Member Practices. This 2-step project involves the education about HPV vaccination and subsequent implementation of the HPV vaccination program at the ground level involving 10,000 gynaecologists.

Dr. Pai has been a pioneer in Hysteroscopy in India since 1984 and introduced Office Hysteroscopy in 1998. He has been President, Secretary General and Treasurer of Indian Association of Gynaecological Endoscopists (IAGE), which is the largest endoscopic organization in the country. He is Founder Editor of IAGE Journal of Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgery. During his tenure as IAGE President, he has conducted numerous conferences, workshops, TOTs for promoting safe endoscopic surgery including laparoscopic female sterilization.

Dr. Pai is MD Gold Medallist in OBGYN from University of Mumbai, India 1985. Dr. Pai did his Research Fellowship in Reproductive Biology from Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia in 1989-1990 and Masters in Clinical Embryology from the Jones Institute, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, USA in 2006 following which he was appointed as Adjunct Assistant Professor in Clinical Embryology and Andrology in EVMS till April 2023.

He was the President of IVF Society of India, Founder Chair of Indian SIG at American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and Board Member of International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS) for 9-years (Assistant Treasurer, Director of Corporate Affairs and Director of External Affairs).

• Dr. Hrishikesh Pai has been the Member of FOGSI for past 38 years. He became the President of the largest society of FOGSI – Mumbai ObGyn Society in 2008-2009. Following that, he took over multiple roles in FOGSI:
  1. Present President (2022-23)
  2. Secretary General (2015-2017)
  3. Secretary General (2012-2014)
  4. Treasurer (2009-2011)
  5. Senior Vice President (2006)
  6. Chairman, Genetics & Fetal Medicine Committee (2001-2005)
• Dr. Pai is presently the Chief Administrator – FOGSI Manyata Project which was started with the idea of reducing maternal and infant mortality in India by upgrading the Maternity Homes. This was launched in 2017, by the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), in association with MSD for Mothers (Merck, USA), John Hopkins (Jhpiego, MacArthur Foundation and USA). Dr. Pai is the Lead Administrator of this project. Presently more than 2000 maternity homes have already been upgraded. Dr. Pai received the US AID award in New Delhi for this project in 2018. In 2019, FOGSI received the CSR Health Award for this project. In 2022, Dr. Pai has enabled FOGSI to collaborate with NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers) to implement Manyata program more effectively.
• In association with Healthcare Sector Skill Council (HSCC), Dr. Pai has launched the Maternal and Perinatal Life Support Certification by HSSC & FOGSI
• He is planning the FOGSI Udaan Project in association with USAID and MOMENTUM Country & Global Leadership Program led by Jhpiego, which is an initiative that brings together various private sector players who are otherwise fragmented and work in silos, to increase usage of SRH commodities and services among young people, by addressing asymmetries of information and market inefficiencies.
• He will be launching FOGSI Project SAMVEG supported by USAID, led by IPEG along with consortium partner JSIPL, in collaboration Indian Academy of Paediatrics to work on a holistic prematurity package entailing continuum of care approach with the use of antenatal corticosteroids (ACS), care during labour, care of small and sick new- born, feeding practices and family participatory care (FPC) in Jharkhand state in eastern India.
• He is working on MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics, which is a global project which seeks to sustainably support the Government of India (GoI) in strengthening surgical safety within family planning and obstetric care.
• In association with American Cancer Society, Dr. Pai has launched a new project on HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention – An Evidence-based Program to Increase HPV Vaccine Recommendation and Delivery Among Member Practices.
• He has launched A +++ HRP Care Centre with an aim to identify each High-Risk Pregnancy, to follow each one of them and to save them from severe morbidity and mortality. This will help to standardize the practice as per the guidelines and protocols at nearby facilities where high risk mothers are reaching. The ultimate aim is to bring MMR in India equal to MMR in developed world. (< 20 per 100000 lac live births).
• He was the Organizing Chairperson for the All India Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (AICOG 2013), Mumbai. Over 10,000+ delegates attended the Conference and he has generated substantial amount during the Conference which has contributed to FOGSI Fund to buy office space in Mumbai.
• He is the Scientific Chairperson for the upcoming 67th All India Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (AICOG 2025), Mumbai
• He has launched the Badlaav / Change campaign under which numerous preventive maternal health strategies have been covered:
  1. The “Badlaav Clinic” is a novel initiative started under his guidance for the betterment of women in India. The initiative aims at Badlaav / Change in women’s health through amalgamation of Ekikaran (Integration), Samanta (Equality) and Takniki (Technology) – for beneficence of congregation. The Badlaav Clinic aims to provide free gynaecological check ups to women on 18th of every month.
  2. He has launched the FOGSI Presidential Initiative of Cervical Cancer: Prevention and Treatment – Pratibandh where 62 State Societies did Cancer Screening across India and thoroughly examined 4267 patients for breast and cervical cancer.
  3. He has launched the FOGSI Presidential PPH Initiative to decrease the incidence of PPH related maternal mortality
  4. He has launched the FOGSI Presidential Initiative of LSCS to analyse the caesarean births and increase the incidence of respectful vaginal birth
  5. He launched the FOGSI Presidential Initiative of Anaemia Mukt Bharat – Majboot comprising of:
     • Nari Swasthya Janandolan Yatra (Women’s Health Roadshow) / Na Na Anaemia Ride – It was one of its kind Yatra that covered over 4000 km in 21 cities over 40 days, covering 5 Indian States (Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal) and 21 FOGSI societies. The ride also had a large red anaemia bus and a big video van that was used to play women’s health related messages, specially prepared by FOGSI members. The van and bus were parked on the road, as we moved on, so that we could reach out to the community. We conducted 21 health check-up camps, collected relevant data and examined thousands of patients. Besides these, 21 public forums and 21 continuing medical education workshops were also conducted and the campaign touched nearly 60 million people.
     • Under the theme Anaemia Mukt Naari (Anaemia Free Woman), over 190+ FOGSI societies have conducted Free Hb testing for women. More than 1,85,000 women have been tested so far. Iron samples are being provided to those who are moderate to severely anaemic and nutrition counselling is being provided to all as well.
  6. He has launched the on-ground FOGSI Presidential Workshops called “Karyashala: Evolve”. Over 120 workshops have been planned, out of which 13 have already been conducted in various cities across India and were attended by more than 100+ gynaecologists each.
  7. He has launched the FOGSI Presidential Initiative of Successful Implementation of Temporary Contraception – Kavach to promote the Post Partum IUCD insertion program, medicated IUCD insertion program and training & introduction of Implanon contraceptive.
  8. He has launched the FOGSI Presidential Initiative of Tackling SHRH and Gender Equity Issues – Samanta
  9. Launched the FOGSI Presidential Initiative of On-ground Application of Adult Vaccination Program – Raksha
  10. He has formulated new FOGSI ICOG Good Clinical Practice Recommendations (GCPR) on 30 topics. Of these, 9 are in the final stages of publication.

• He is the Honorary Professor – Reproductive Medicine at D Y Patil University, Navi Mumbai, India
• He is the Visiting Professor in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Manipal University, India
• He has been the Post-graduate Teacher and Professor at Lilavati Hospital & Research Centre for DNB Examinations, Mumbai, India
• Dr. Pai has been involved in the launch and implementation of PMSMA (Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan) which is the flagship maternal health program of Government of India (2016 onwards till now). This involves free antenatal check up by private practitioners on a voluntary basis on 9th of each month. This has been an ongoing project and Dr. Pai has been recognised (I Pledge for Nine Achievers Award) by the Government of India for this work. Millions of women have benefited from this project.
• He is the Member, Expert Committee – Caesarean Sections in India, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
• He is on the Committee of Government of India to regulate the prevalence of Hysterectomies, 2023
• He is the Member of Bureau of Indian Standards, Obstetrics & Gynaecology Committee since 8-years
• He is the Member National Task Force for Establishment of Reference Interval in Indian Population TERIIP ICMR 2023
• He was the Drafting Committee Member on ‘Guidelines for Recommencing ART Services during COVID-19 Pandemic’ by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of Health Research, MOHFW, Govt. of India 2020
• He has been the Past President – Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction (ISAR) (Membership 5000+)
• He has been the Past President – Indian Association of Gynaecological Endoscopists (ISAR) (Membership 4000+)
• He has been the Past President – Mumbai Obgyn Society (MOGS) (Membership 2000+)
• He has been the Past Member of multiple Committees of ART Bill and Surrogacy Bill at ICMR, Central Government and Maharashtra State Government
• Dr. Pai has been involved in the launch of Nari Swasthya Pahel by FOGSI in 2017. In this project, financially disadvantaged women, are offered free gynaecological check-up including blood investigations and pap smear, free of charge. Thousands of women have benefited from this project.
• Dr. Pai had launched Project Hope, when he was the President of Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction, in 2014. In this project, economically disadvantaged people from society were offered entire IVF cycle free of charge. Many people availed of this project.
• Dr. Pai was the Honorary Consultant in Gynaecology at the Kurla Bhabha Municipal Charitable Hospital for many years (1991 till 2007; 16 years). During this half day free service, Dr. Pai has done work for thousands of patients. All this was done pro bono. This is the most important singular landmark of Dr Pai’s career.
• Dr. Pai was the Community Service Director of the Rotary Club of Mumbai Mid-city for two years. During his tenure, he has done tremendous social work in the area of health for the women, children and elderly patients.
• Dr. Pai has done maximum polio vaccination in one month (1982), when he was posted as a young intern in the large slum ghetto of Mumbai called Malawni. For this work, he had received the Best Intern Award from his Medical School.
• He has delivered 40+ orations, 800+ lectures, edited 18+ books, contributed 65+ chapters and published 42+ research papers.
• FOGSI UNICEF Dheera Project – FOGSI-UNICEF Led initiative to Combat – Violence against Women and Girls (GBV) through Dheera Project – (2021 till date)
• FOGSI FIGO Elimination of Cervical Cancer Project – In view of the aim to promote the cervical cancer screening the program across the North-eastern states and serve for underserved / vulnerable population and as a means to promote collaboration with FOGSI (2022 till date).