New Delhi, May 24 (IANS). President Draupadi Murmu will confer the Padma Awards for the year 2026 at the civil investiture ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, May 25. The Government of India had announced the Padma Awards on 25 January. This time two prominent healthcare experts, Dr. Suresh Hanagwadi and Dr. P. Vijay Anand Reddy will be awarded the Padma Shri.
Dr. Suresh Hanagwadi of Davanagere (Karnataka) is receiving this honor for his remarkable contribution in the field of hemophilia. Dr. P. Vijay Anand Reddy of Hyderabad (Telangana) is receiving Padma Shri for his excellent work in the field of oncology.
Dr. Suresh Hanagwadi, in an exclusive interview with IANS, said, “I am really happy to receive the prestigious Padma Shri award. Haemophilia is a disease that occurs in very few people but its treatment is very expensive. It is my good fortune to be recognized for my service in this field.”
He expressed gratitude to the Government of India, President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister and the entire Cabinet. Dr. Hanagwadi said, “Most children suffering from hemophilia become disabled by the time they reach adolescence. But this disability is preventable. By providing new treatments like prophylactic treatment and non-factor therapy, a condition can be created to prevent bleeding, which will not damage the joints and improve the quality of life.”
Emphasizing on education, Dr. Hanagwadi said that children suffering from hemophilia lag behind due to absenteeism from school. He appealed to the government to give reservation in jobs to these children under the RPWD Act, so that they can live a normal life.
He dedicated this award to the entire haemophilia community, his ‘blood brothers’, students and all those who contributed to achieving this goal.
Meanwhile, Dr. P. Vijay Anand Reddy, a renowned oncologist from Hyderabad, while reacting to the honour, said, “I accept this very prestigious civilian honor bestowed upon me by the Government of India. I feel extremely humbled and honored to receive this award.”
Dr. Reddy said that this award is not only a recognition of his personal journey, but also the achievement of the entire oncology community of the country, his patients, mentors, teachers and family who supported him throughout his journey.
Padma Shri is the country’s fourth highest civilian award, which is given for extraordinary contribution in various fields of art, literature, science, sports, medicine, social work and public life. The selection of regional physicians like Dr. Suresh Hanagwadi and Dr. P. Vijay Anand Reddy as this year’s honorees provides national recognition to the innovations being made in the treatment of rare diseases and cancer.
–IANS
SCH/DM
