Health awareness days in India, 2026 to 2027: a calendar by month and specialty
Indian hospitals plan around close to ninety health days a year, from National Doctors’ Day on 1 July to World Heart Day on 29 September. This calendar lists 88 of them for October 2026 to September 2027, by month and by specialty, with the days for doctors, nurses and other professions called out. Pick the few your specialties can genuinely own, brief your team six to eight weeks ahead, and download the PDF to plan the year.
Why an India-specific calendar
Most health day lists online are written for the US or the UK. Copy them and you end up wishing doctors on the wrong date: the US marks its doctors’ day in March, India marks National Doctors’ Day on 1 July. Several Indian days have also moved or doubled. Ayurveda Day has had a fixed date, 23 September, since 2025. National Deworming Day runs twice a year, in February and August. Indian Organ Donation Day is now observed on 3 August.
This calendar keeps three kinds of day: national days declared in India, days that recognise healthcare professions, and the global WHO and UN days that Indian hospitals actually run campaigns on. It leaves out days that have no real footprint here. Dates for fixed days repeat every year; days set by a rule, such as the second Thursday of October for World Sight Day, are worked out for 2026 and 2027.
Days for doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals
These are the days to recognise your own people, inside the hospital and in public. Patients respond to them too, because they put a face on the institution. Get consent from anyone you feature.
| Day | Date | Who it recognises |
|---|---|---|
| National Doctors’ Day | Thu 1 Jul 2027 | All doctors. Marks the birth and death anniversary of Dr B. C. Roy. |
| International Nurses Day | Wed 12 May 2027 | Nurses. Florence Nightingale’s birthday; the National Florence Nightingale Awards honour Indian nurses. |
| International Day of the Midwife | Wed 5 May 2027 | Midwives and labour room teams. |
| World Family Doctor Day | Wed 19 May 2027 | General practitioners and family physicians. |
| World Pharmacists Day | Sat 25 Sep 2027 | Hospital and retail pharmacists. |
| World Physiotherapy Day | Wed 8 Sep 2027 | Physiotherapists and rehabilitation teams. |
| World Radiography Day | Sun 8 Nov 2026 | Radiographers and imaging technologists. |
| World Anaesthesia Day | Fri 16 Oct 2026 | Anaesthesiologists and OT teams. |
| World Patient Safety Day | Fri 17 Sep 2027 | Quality, nursing and every clinical team. |
| World Trauma Day | Sat 17 Oct 2026 | Emergency, trauma and ambulance teams. |
Month by month: October 2026 to September 2027
India-specific days are marked. For month-long observances, plan a series rather than a single post.
October 2026
| Date | Observance | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 Oct | National Voluntary Blood Donation Day (India) | Haematology and blood bank |
| Thu 1 Oct | International Day of Older Persons | Geriatrics |
| All month | Breast Cancer Awareness Month all of October | Oncology |
| Thu 8 Oct | World Sight Day second Thursday of October | Ophthalmology |
| Sat 10 Oct | World Mental Health Day | Psychiatry and psychology |
| Sat 10 Oct | World Hospice and Palliative Care Day second Saturday of October | Palliative care |
| Mon 12 Oct | World Arthritis Day | Rheumatology and orthopaedics |
| Fri 16 Oct | World Anaesthesia Day | Anaesthesiology |
| Fri 16 Oct | World Spine Day | Spine and orthopaedics |
| Sat 17 Oct | World Trauma Day | Emergency and trauma care |
| Sun 18 Oct | World Menopause Day | Gynaecology |
| Tue 20 Oct | World Osteoporosis Day | Orthopaedics |
| Sat 24 Oct | World Polio Day | Paediatrics and public health |
| Thu 29 Oct | World Stroke Day | Neurology |
November 2026
| Date | Observance | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 7 Nov | National Cancer Awareness Day (India) | Oncology |
| Sun 8 Nov | World Radiography Day | Radiology |
| Thu 12 Nov | World Pneumonia Day | Pulmonology and paediatrics |
| Sat 14 Nov | World Diabetes Day | Endocrinology |
| Sat 14 Nov | Children’s Day (India) | Paediatrics |
| Sun 15 Nov to Sat 21 Nov | National Newborn Week (India) | Neonatology |
| Tue 17 Nov | National Epilepsy Day (India) | Neurology |
| Tue 17 Nov | World Prematurity Day | Neonatology |
| Tue 17 Nov | World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day | Oncology and gynaecology |
| Wed 18 Nov to Tue 24 Nov | World AMR Awareness Week | Infectious diseases |
December 2026
| Date | Observance | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 1 Dec | World AIDS Day | Infectious diseases |
| Thu 3 Dec | International Day of Persons with Disabilities | Rehabilitation |
| Sat 12 Dec | Universal Health Coverage Day | Health policy |
January 2027
| Date | Observance | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 30 Jan | Anti-Leprosy Day (India) | Dermatology and public health |
February 2027
| Date | Observance | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 4 Feb | World Cancer Day | Oncology |
| Wed 10 Feb | National Deworming Day (India) February round | Paediatrics |
| Thu 11 Feb | National Unani Day (India) | AYUSH |
| Sun 28 Feb | Rare Disease Day last day of February | Genetics and rare diseases |
March 2027
| Date | Observance | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 3 Mar | World Hearing Day | ENT |
| Thu 4 Mar | World Obesity Day | Bariatrics and endocrinology |
| Mon 8 Mar | International Women’s Day | Women’s health |
| Thu 11 Mar | World Kidney Day second Thursday of March | Nephrology and urology |
| Tue 16 Mar | National Vaccination Day (India) | Paediatrics and public health |
| Sat 20 Mar | World Oral Health Day | Dental |
| Sun 21 Mar | World Down Syndrome Day | Paediatrics and genetics |
| Wed 24 Mar | World TB Day | Pulmonology |
April 2027
| Date | Observance | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 2 Apr | World Autism Awareness Day | Child development |
| Wed 7 Apr | World Health Day WHO announces the theme | All specialties |
| Sat 10 Apr | World Homoeopathy Day | AYUSH |
| Sun 11 Apr | National Safe Motherhood Day (India) | Obstetrics |
| Sun 11 Apr | World Parkinson’s Day | Neurology |
| Sat 17 Apr | World Haemophilia Day | Haematology |
| Mon 19 Apr | World Liver Day | Hepatology and gastroenterology |
| Sat 24 Apr to Fri 30 Apr | World Immunization Week | Paediatrics and public health |
| Sun 25 Apr | World Malaria Day | Infectious diseases |
May 2027
| Date | Observance | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 4 May | World Asthma Day first Tuesday of May | Pulmonology |
| Wed 5 May | World Hand Hygiene Day | Infection control |
| Wed 5 May | International Day of the Midwife | Obstetrics and midwifery |
| Sat 8 May | World Thalassaemia Day | Haematology |
| Wed 12 May | International Nurses Day Florence Nightingale’s birthday | Nursing |
| Sun 16 May | National Dengue Day (India) | Infectious diseases |
| Mon 17 May | World Hypertension Day | Cardiology |
| Wed 19 May | World Family Doctor Day | Family medicine |
| Tue 25 May | World Thyroid Day | Endocrinology |
| Sat 29 May | World Digestive Health Day | Gastroenterology |
| Mon 31 May | World No Tobacco Day | Oncology and pulmonology |
June 2027
| Date | Observance | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 7 Jun | World Food Safety Day | Public health and nutrition |
| Mon 14 Jun | World Blood Donor Day | Haematology and blood bank |
| Sat 19 Jun | World Sickle Cell Day | Haematology |
| Mon 21 Jun | International Day of Yoga India-led UN day | Wellness and AYUSH |
July 2027
| Date | Observance | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jul | National Doctors’ Day (India) birth and death anniversary of Dr B. C. Roy | All doctors |
| Tue 6 Jul | World Zoonoses Day | Infectious diseases |
| Sun 11 Jul | World Population Day | Family planning |
| Thu 22 Jul | World Brain Day | Neurology |
| Sun 25 Jul | World IVF Day | Fertility |
| Tue 27 Jul | World Head and Neck Cancer Day | Oncology and ENT |
| Wed 28 Jul | World Hepatitis Day | Hepatology |
August 2027
| Date | Observance | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Sun 1 Aug to Sat 7 Aug | World Breastfeeding Week | Obstetrics and paediatrics |
| Tue 3 Aug | Indian Organ Donation Day (India) | Transplant |
| Wed 4 Aug | Bone and Joint Day (India) observed by the Indian Orthopaedic Association | Orthopaedics |
| Tue 10 Aug | National Deworming Day (India) August round | Paediatrics |
| Wed 25 Aug to Wed 8 Sep | National Eye Donation Fortnight (India) | Ophthalmology |
September 2027
| Date | Observance | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 1 Sep to Tue 7 Sep | National Nutrition Week (India) | Nutrition and dietetics |
| All month | Childhood Cancer Awareness Month all of September | Paediatric oncology |
| Wed 8 Sep | World Physiotherapy Day | Physiotherapy |
| Fri 10 Sep | World Suicide Prevention Day always include a helpline | Psychiatry and psychology |
| Fri 17 Sep | World Patient Safety Day | Quality and patient safety |
| Tue 21 Sep | World Alzheimer’s Day | Neurology and geriatrics |
| Thu 23 Sep | Ayurveda Day (India) fixed date from 2025 | AYUSH |
| Sat 25 Sep | World Pharmacists Day | Pharmacy |
| Sat 25 Sep | World Lung Day | Pulmonology |
| Sun 26 Sep | World Contraception Day | Gynaecology and family planning |
| Tue 28 Sep | World Rabies Day | Infectious diseases |
| Wed 29 Sep | World Heart Day | Cardiology |
Health days by specialty
If you run a department or a single-specialty clinic, start here. These are the days where your doctors have the most credible voice.
| Specialty | Days |
|---|---|
| AYUSH | National Unani Day (Thu 11 Feb); World Homoeopathy Day (Sat 10 Apr); Ayurveda Day (Thu 23 Sep) |
| All doctors | National Doctors’ Day (Thu 1 Jul) |
| All specialties | World Health Day (Wed 7 Apr) |
| Anaesthesiology | World Anaesthesia Day (Fri 16 Oct) |
| Bariatrics and endocrinology | World Obesity Day (Thu 4 Mar) |
| Cardiology | World Hypertension Day (Mon 17 May); World Heart Day (Wed 29 Sep) |
| Child development | World Autism Awareness Day (Fri 2 Apr) |
| Dental | World Oral Health Day (Sat 20 Mar) |
| Dermatology and public health | Anti-Leprosy Day (Sat 30 Jan) |
| ENT | World Hearing Day (Wed 3 Mar) |
| Emergency and trauma care | World Trauma Day (Sat 17 Oct) |
| Endocrinology | World Diabetes Day (Sat 14 Nov); World Thyroid Day (Tue 25 May) |
| Family medicine | World Family Doctor Day (Wed 19 May) |
| Family planning | World Population Day (Sun 11 Jul) |
| Fertility | World IVF Day (Sun 25 Jul) |
| Gastroenterology | World Digestive Health Day (Sat 29 May) |
| Genetics and rare diseases | Rare Disease Day (Sun 28 Feb) |
| Geriatrics | International Day of Older Persons (Thu 1 Oct) |
| Gynaecology | World Menopause Day (Sun 18 Oct) |
| Gynaecology and family planning | World Contraception Day (Sun 26 Sep) |
| Haematology | World Haemophilia Day (Sat 17 Apr); World Thalassaemia Day (Sat 8 May); World Sickle Cell Day (Sat 19 Jun) |
| Haematology and blood bank | National Voluntary Blood Donation Day (Thu 1 Oct); World Blood Donor Day (Mon 14 Jun) |
| Health policy | Universal Health Coverage Day (Sat 12 Dec) |
| Hepatology | World Hepatitis Day (Wed 28 Jul) |
| Hepatology and gastroenterology | World Liver Day (Mon 19 Apr) |
| Infection control | World Hand Hygiene Day (Wed 5 May) |
| Infectious diseases | World AMR Awareness Week (Wed 18 Nov to Tue 24 Nov); World AIDS Day (Tue 1 Dec); World Malaria Day (Sun 25 Apr); National Dengue Day (Sun 16 May); World Zoonoses Day (Tue 6 Jul); World Rabies Day (Tue 28 Sep) |
| Neonatology | National Newborn Week (Sun 15 Nov to Sat 21 Nov); World Prematurity Day (Tue 17 Nov) |
| Nephrology and urology | World Kidney Day (Thu 11 Mar) |
| Neurology | World Stroke Day (Thu 29 Oct); National Epilepsy Day (Tue 17 Nov); World Parkinson’s Day (Sun 11 Apr); World Brain Day (Thu 22 Jul) |
| Neurology and geriatrics | World Alzheimer’s Day (Tue 21 Sep) |
| Nursing | International Nurses Day (Wed 12 May) |
| Nutrition and dietetics | National Nutrition Week (Wed 1 Sep to Tue 7 Sep) |
| Obstetrics | National Safe Motherhood Day (Sun 11 Apr) |
| Obstetrics and midwifery | International Day of the Midwife (Wed 5 May) |
| Obstetrics and paediatrics | World Breastfeeding Week (Sun 1 Aug to Sat 7 Aug) |
| Oncology | Breast Cancer Awareness Month (All month); National Cancer Awareness Day (Sat 7 Nov); World Cancer Day (Thu 4 Feb) |
| Oncology and ENT | World Head and Neck Cancer Day (Tue 27 Jul) |
| Oncology and gynaecology | World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day (Tue 17 Nov) |
| Oncology and pulmonology | World No Tobacco Day (Mon 31 May) |
| Ophthalmology | World Sight Day (Thu 8 Oct); National Eye Donation Fortnight (Wed 25 Aug to Wed 8 Sep) |
| Orthopaedics | World Osteoporosis Day (Tue 20 Oct); Bone and Joint Day (Wed 4 Aug) |
| Paediatric oncology | Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (All month) |
| Paediatrics | Children’s Day (Sat 14 Nov); National Deworming Day (Wed 10 Feb); National Deworming Day (Tue 10 Aug) |
| Paediatrics and genetics | World Down Syndrome Day (Sun 21 Mar) |
| Paediatrics and public health | World Polio Day (Sat 24 Oct); National Vaccination Day (Tue 16 Mar); World Immunization Week (Sat 24 Apr to Fri 30 Apr) |
| Palliative care | World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (Sat 10 Oct) |
| Pharmacy | World Pharmacists Day (Sat 25 Sep) |
| Physiotherapy | World Physiotherapy Day (Wed 8 Sep) |
| Psychiatry and psychology | World Mental Health Day (Sat 10 Oct); World Suicide Prevention Day (Fri 10 Sep) |
| Public health and nutrition | World Food Safety Day (Mon 7 Jun) |
| Pulmonology | World TB Day (Wed 24 Mar); World Asthma Day (Tue 4 May); World Lung Day (Sat 25 Sep) |
| Pulmonology and paediatrics | World Pneumonia Day (Thu 12 Nov) |
| Quality and patient safety | World Patient Safety Day (Fri 17 Sep) |
| Radiology | World Radiography Day (Sun 8 Nov) |
| Rehabilitation | International Day of Persons with Disabilities (Thu 3 Dec) |
| Rheumatology and orthopaedics | World Arthritis Day (Mon 12 Oct) |
| Spine and orthopaedics | World Spine Day (Fri 16 Oct) |
| Transplant | Indian Organ Donation Day (Tue 3 Aug) |
| Wellness and AYUSH | International Day of Yoga (Mon 21 Jun) |
| Women’s health | International Women’s Day (Mon 8 Mar) |
How to plan around these days
- Choose fewer days. Four or five well-run days a quarter beat a post on every date. Pick days that match services you offer and doctors who are willing to speak.
- Work back from the date. Brief the team six to eight weeks ahead for PR, four weeks ahead for content and social. Journalists file awareness-day stories days before the date, not on it.
- Check the theme. WHO and most organisers announce the year’s theme a few weeks ahead. World Health Day 2027 will carry a new theme; check the WHO site in March.
- Bring something new. An aggregated, anonymised view of what a department sees, a free screening camp with clear booking, or a doctor answering the questions patients actually ask. A greeting card creative adds little.
- Plan the after-care. Any camp or campaign needs a staffed phone line, a booking route and follow-up for people who turn out to need treatment.
What to avoid
- Cure claims, guarantees and superlatives. Keep to NMC professional conduct rules and ASCI guidelines, and avoid claims restricted by the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act.
- Patient stories or photos without written, specific consent for the channel and duration.
- Fear-led messaging on sensitive days. For mental health, suicide prevention, HIV and cancer, use person-first language and, for suicide prevention, always include a helpline.
- Copying another country’s date for a day India marks differently.
Download the calendar as a PDF
The PDF has the full month-by-month calendar, the professional days, the specialty index and a pre-publish checklist on a few printable pages. Enter your email below and confirm it; the download link arrives in your welcome email. If you want lead-time formulas, owners and status tracking, the Excel health awareness PR calendar does that.
For the PR side of these days, read newsjacking and health awareness days, what health journalists actually want and the hospital press release template pack.
Questions people ask
For most hospitals: World Health Day (7 April), National Doctors’ Day (1 July), World Heart Day (29 September), World Mental Health Day (10 October), World Diabetes Day (14 November), World Cancer Day (4 February) and World TB Day (24 March). The right shortlist depends on your specialties; the specialty table above helps you choose.
1 July every year. It marks the birth and death anniversary of Dr B. C. Roy, physician and former Chief Minister of West Bengal. It is different from the US date in March.
India marks International Nurses Day on 12 May, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. The National Florence Nightingale Awards recognise nursing professionals in India.
World Health Day is on 7 April every year. The World Health Organization announces each year’s theme in the weeks before, so check the WHO website in March before you brief your team.
Yes. From 2025 the Government of India fixed Ayurveda Day on 23 September. It was earlier linked to Dhanvantari Jayanti, which moves every year.
National days in this calendar include National Doctors’ Day, National Cancer Awareness Day, National Newborn Week, National Epilepsy Day, Anti-Leprosy Day, National Deworming Day, National Unani Day, National Vaccination Day, National Safe Motherhood Day, National Dengue Day, Indian Organ Donation Day, National Eye Donation Fortnight, National Nutrition Week and Ayurveda Day.
Fewer than you think. Four or five well-planned days a quarter, matched to services you offer and doctors who will speak, usually beat a post on every observance. Skipping a day is better than a generic greeting.
Six to eight weeks ahead for PR, because journalists file before the day. Four weeks ahead for content and social. Add time for clinical review and any patient consent.
Fixed-date days repeat every year. Some days follow a rule: World Sight Day is the second Thursday of October, World Kidney Day the second Thursday of March, World Asthma Day the first Tuesday of May. Those dates change each year.
Free screening camps are common and useful if they have a clear booking route and follow-up. Keep any promotion within NMC professional conduct rules and ASCI guidelines, avoid inducement-style language and check with your legal team. This is not legal advice.
Give them a clinical lead. Use person-first language, avoid fear-led creative, never publish identifiable patient information without written consent, and always include a helpline on suicide prevention content.
The PDF is a printable planning calendar by month and by specialty. The Excel PR calendar adds source links for every day, lead-time formulas, owners, clinical reviewers and a status tracker.
Enter your email in the form on this page and confirm it. Your welcome email carries the download link. It is free.
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