Padma Awards in Medicine 2025: Here are this year's Padma Vibhusan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri recipients

New Delhi: The Union Government recently announced the list of Padma Awards 2025 recipients and 10 eminent persons have made it to the list for their contributions to the field of medicine.

‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. While one doctor has been conferred with 'Padma Vibhushan' and one with 'Padma Bhushan', 7 doctors received the 'Padma Shri' award this year. 

The following doctors and eminent persons have received Padma Awards 2025 in Medicine:

Padma Vibhushan: 

(1) Shri Dr Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy:

Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy is a renowned Indian gastroenterologist and the Chairman and founder of the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG) at Hyderabad. He hails from Alur, near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh and pursued his medical education at Kurnool Medical College.

Back in 2016 and 2022, Dr Reddy received the Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards respectively. Apart from this, Dr. Reddy, who is an elected fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, was also given the world's highest gastroenterology award in Shanghai, China, at a function held in September 2013.

He also received the Rudolf V. Schindler Award, the highest category in the prestigious Crystal Awards named after Schindler, who is considered as “the father of gastroscopy” by the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE).

He becomes the first Telugu doctor in India to receive all three Padma Awards- Padma Shri (2002), Padma Bhushan (2016), and now Padma Vibhushan (2025)—a testament to his unparalleled contributions to the field of Gastroenterology and public health. From revolutionizing therapeutic endoscopy to putting India on the global healthcare map, Dr. Reddy's legacy continues to inspire millions.

Padma Bhushan: 

(1) Shri Jose Chacko Periappuram: 

Dr. Chacko Periappuram is a celebrated Cardiac Surgeon from Kerala and founder and chairman of "Heart Care Foundation", a charitable trust that offers financial assistance to poor heart patients. He is credited for revolutionizing surgical cardiac care in the State.

He has the credit of performing the first successful heart transplant in the State of Kerala and also the first successful heart transplant in India. Besides, he is also credited with the first beating heart, awake bypass, and total arterial revascularization surgeries in Kerala.

After pursuing the MBBS from Government Medical College, Kottayam in 1985, Dr. Periappuram went to the United Kingdom for post-graduate medical education and training. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, the Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow and the Royal College of Surgeons of London.

Back in 2011, the Government of India awarded him with the Padma Shri award and this year, he received the Padma Bhushan, one of the highest civilian awards in India.

(2) Shri Pankaj Patel:

Although not under the category of Medicine, Pankaj R. Patel, the Chairman of Zydus Lifesciences Limited, has been conferred with the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India for his contributions in the field of Trade and Industry.

Mr. Pankaj Patel is the Chairman of Zydus Lifesciences, a discovery-driven, global Lifesciences company with operations in more than 80 countries worldwide. The Zydus Group is an innovative, global life sciences company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of healthcare therapies.

Padma Shri: 

(1) Shri Ashok Kumar Mahapatra:

Dr. Ashok Kumar Mahapatra received the Padma Shri award this year for his contribution to the field of medicine. After pursuing his MBBS from Berhampur University, Orissa, Dr. Mahapatra pursued an M.S Surgery and MCh Neurosurgery from AIIMS New Delhi, followed by a DNB Neurosurgery by the National Board of Examination.

He is a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences and carried out more than two dozens of research over the past few decades. Dr Mahapatra also owns the credit of heading the team that conducted the rare craniopagus surgery of conjoined twins Jaga-Kalia at AIIMS in New Delhi in 2017.

Dr. Mahapatra worked as a faculty of Neurosurgery at AIIMS New Delhi from 1983 to 2017. He was appointed the Director of Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow in 2006 and the Director of AIIMS Bhubaneshwar in 2012. He retired as the Dean of Research, at AIIMS New Delhi.

(2) Shri Budhendra Kumar Jain:

Dr. Budhendra Kumar Jain was also conferred with the Padma Shri award in 2025. He is the Director and Trustee of Shri Sadguru Seva Sangh Hospital, Chitrakoot. Being inspired by the work of Saint Shri Ranchhoddasji Maharaj, Dr. Jain started working with Shri Sadguru Seva Sangh Trust after completing his Ophthalmology residency in Mumbai.

He pursued his MBBS from Shyam Shah Medical College Rewa and completed his post-graduation at Lokmanya Tilak Medical College Sion Hospital.

After overcoming the challenges in the initial days of the Trust, Dr. Jain set up a state-of-the-art eye hospital in a remote place like Chitrakoot. Shri Sadguru Seva Sangh Hospital performs over 1 lakh eye surgeries every year, transforming countless lives.

(3) Shri Hemant Kumar:

This year, the Union Government has conferred the Padma Shri Award to Bihar-based nephrologist Shri Hemant Kumar. Dr Kumar began his career at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, and has also held important positions in many hospitals in the state capital.

Apart from being a renowned Kidney specialist in Bihar, Dr. Kumar is also known to spread awareness among patients to prevent kidney disease. 

(4) Smt. Neerja Bhatla: 

Dr. Neerja Bhatla is a Gynaecologist from Delhi who specializes on cervical cancer detection, prevention and management. After pursuing her MBBS and post-graduation in Ob-Gyn, she worked as a faculty at the Obstetrics and Gynaecologist department at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. She also worked as the Head of the Gynaecologic Oncology National Cancer Institute, Jhajjar, AIIMS.

After retiring as the Head of AIIMS New Delhi, Dr. Bhatla continued to lead numerous research projects in India on the prevention of cervical cancer including screening in low-resource settings, HPV epidemiology, and trials on affordable HPV testing and vaccines.

She also played a key role in creating resource-based guidelines for cervical cancer screening, management and HPV vaccination. Under her leadership as the Chairperson, the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), developed the FIGO Gynaecologic cancer management app.

(5) Smt. Soniya Nityanand:

The Government has also conferred the Padma Shri award to the Vice Chancellor of King George's Medical University, Dr. Soniya Nityanand. An Indian immunologist specializing in Hematology, Dr. Nityanand is one of the few bone marrow specialists in the country and is known for her pioneering research on stem cell transplantation and hematological disorders.

She pursued both her graduation and post-graduation from KGMU Lucknow. Later, she completed her PhD in 1997 from the Immunology-Hematology section of the Department of Medicine at Karolinska Institute, Sweden.

In the past, she also held the post of the Head of the Department of Hematology at Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences and the Director of Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences. Her father Dr. Nityanand was also conferred with the Padma Shri award by the Government.

(6) Smt. Vijayalakshmi Deshamane:

Dr. Vijayalakshmi Deshamane is a veteran oncologist from Kalaburgi, who dedicated her life to the advancement of cancer care and awareness. She was pivotal at the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru, contributing to advancement in cancer research, and treatment and raising awareness.

Despite facing financial hurdles in her childhood, Dr. Deshamane continued to excel academically. Later, she led the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru.

Dr. Deshamane, a pioneer in breast cancer research, has conducted impactful studies and dedicated her life to providing free treatment and counselling to cancer patients belonging to the economically disadvantaged category.

(7) Shri Vilas Dangre: 

Dr. Vilas Dangre is an eminent homeopath and has been conferred with the Padma Shri Award 2025 by the Union Government. Despite losing his eyesight more than a decade ago, Dr. Dangre dedicated more than 50 years of his life 50 years treating economically weaker section patients at a nominal cost.

He set up Dr Vilas Dangre Homeopathy Clinic, Nagpur – where he has treated more than 1 lakh patients. He had also treated Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2014 Assembly election campaign.

(8) Smt. Sheikha Shaikha Ali Al-Jaber Al-Sabah:

This year, the Government has also honoured Smt. Sheikha Shaikha Ali Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for her contribution by conferring her Padma Shri award in the field of medicine by recognizing her efforts to promote yoga and wellness in the Gulf region.

Sheikha Shaikha Ali Al Jaber Al Sabah has been at the forefront of advocating yoga as a holistic approach to health and well-being in Kuwait. Her work has also contributed to increase awareness and fostering cultural exchange between India and Kuwait.

Also Read: Padma Awards in Medicine 2024: 3 doctors get Padma Bhushan, 10 conferred Padma Shri