2Collaborations with health institutions
UPES works with health institutions locally, nationally and internationally to improve health outcomes through joint research, training and innovation.
Impact
Partnerships multiply what UPES can do alone, taking doctors to villages, students into hospitals, and international expertise into Dehradun classrooms.
17health partners, from village NGOs and insurers to international universities
20,200+students and staff with medical insurance and 24×7 support
Since 2008free mobile van with Sewa Bharti
1,303units of blood collected with Mahant Indresh Hospital and IMA
- Villages near campus receive a doctor and free medicines through the Sewa Bharti mobile van.
- Students gain internships and research exposure at AIIMS Rishikesh and Doon Medical College.
- Every employee and student has medical insurance, and both can reach doctors, counsellors and health screenings through partners such as Max Healthcare, Practo and True Wellness.
- 32 faculty were trained in healthcare analytics with SAS Institute India in May 2025.
- International links with universities in Taiwan, Germany and Malaysia bring global expertise into teaching and research.
- Local. Since 2008 UPES has worked with Sewa Bharti, a healthcare and relief NGO, to run a free medical mobile van for nearby villages. In April 2024 the university ran a blood collection drive with Mahant Indresh Hospital and IMA Dehradun. An industry partnership with Wockhardt also connects students and faculty with healthcare practice. In Dehradun, the School of Health Sciences and Technology has tied up with Doon Medical College for joint research projects, exchange of students and visiting scholars, joint conferences and internships.
- National. The School of Health Sciences and Technology has signed MoUs with AIIMS Rishikesh and Drishti Eye Institute. The AIIMS Rishikesh MoU, signed in December 2021, sets up a long-term alliance to build health infrastructure for the people of Uttarakhand, with exchange of students and visiting scholars, joint research projects and conferences, and internships. The two institutes have developed major research collaborations in microbiology, biochemistry and clinical research, with jointly authored papers in health and diagnostics. Drishti Eye Institute and Merck are further partners. Prof Bhuvanesh Gupta, who joined UPES in April 2025, brings research collaborations on medical textiles and biomaterials with AIIMS New Delhi, PGI Chandigarh and the Indian Institute of Ayurveda.
- Global. An MoU with Taipei Medical University, Taiwan (QS subject rank 101–150 in Pharmacy and Pharmacology), supports student and researcher exchange and joint research in pharmaceutical and health sciences. Leipzig University, Germany, works with the School of Health Sciences and Technology on One Health challenges in the Himalaya.
Health partners
UPES's health partnerships run from village health care to international research.
| Partner | Type | Since | What it delivers | Who benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sewa Bharti | NGO | 2008 | Free medical mobile van for villages near campus | Residents of villages near campus |
| Mahant Indresh Hospital and IMA Dehradun | Hospital and medical association | April 2024 | Blood collection drive on campus | Patients who need blood: 1,303 units collected in three days |
| Doon Medical College, Dehradun | Medical college | — | Joint research, student and scholar exchange, joint conferences, internships | UPES students and researchers |
| AIIMS Rishikesh | National medical institute | December 2021 | Long-term alliance for Uttarakhand health infrastructure; joint research in microbiology, biochemistry and clinical research; exchanges and internships | UPES students and faculty, and the people of Uttarakhand |
| Drishti Eye Institute | Eye hospital | 24 November 2021 | Exchange of research information and publications, joint research programmes and conferences | UPES researchers and students |
| Merck Life Science | Industry | 13 December 2021 | Scientific skill development for students, including training at the Merck High Skill Development Centre, Chandigarh | UPES students |
| Wockhardt | Industry | — | Links students and faculty with pharmaceutical practice | UPES students and faculty |
| Vaidya Chandra Prakash Cancer Research Foundation, Rudrapur | Cancer research foundation | February 2025 | Co-organised the two-day symposium on Ayurveda for Optimal Immunity at UPES (21–22 February 2025) | Students and researchers at the symposium |
| DBT-BIRAC and other government agencies | Government funding | 2024–25 | More than ₹14 crore in grants to the Runway incubator, supporting start-ups in sectors including health care; BIRAC also backs the SWACHH public health incubator | Start-ups and young innovators, including in health care |
| SAS Institute India | Industry | May 2025 | Five-day faculty programme in healthcare analytics and life sciences | 32 faculty members |
| Taipei Medical University, Taiwan | International university | — | Student and scholar exchange, joint research in pharmaceutical and health sciences | UPES students and scholars |
| Leipzig University, Germany | International university | — | One Health challenges in the Himalaya | UPES researchers |
| University of Malaya, Malaysia | International university | March 2024 | Visiting fellowship for a UPES health sciences student (1–11 March 2024); expert session on quantum computing in precision medicine (April 2025) | A UPES student visiting fellow; SoHST students |
| Medical University of the Americas | International university | July 2025 | 5-year accelerated MD pathway for UPES students | UPES students who want to become doctors |
How the AIIMS Rishikesh partnership works
The MoU was signed in December 2021 by Dr Veena Agarwal, Registrar of UPES, and Dr Vartika Saxena, Dean of Research at AIIMS Rishikesh. It covers six areas: exchange of students, exchange of visiting scholars, joint research projects, exchange of academic information and materials, joint conferences and internship programmes. The two institutes have been preparing joint research proposals for funding.
Why Taipei Medical University
Taipei Medical University is ranked 101–150 in the world for Pharmacy and Pharmacology by QS. It leads research in translational cancer medicine, neuroscience, pulmonary medicine, AI in medicine, cell therapy and immunotherapy, and medical device development, areas that overlap with UPES research on cancer, AI diagnostics and medical devices.
Health insurance and care partners for staff and students
Through its Human Resources department and student welfare office, UPES works with insurers and health-care providers so that every employee and student is covered for medical costs and can reach a doctor or counsellor quickly. Together, these arrangements cover more than 20,000 students and employees.
18,500+students covered by medical insurance
1,700+faculty and staff covered by medical insurance
20,200+students and employees able to use online doctors and the 24×7 helpline
| Partner | What it provides | Beneficiaries | Impact | Arranged by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group medical insurance | Medical insurance for employees, explained at HR induction | 1,700+ faculty and staff; 500+ new employees briefed in 2024 and 2025 | Employees are protected against medical costs from their first day | Human Resources |
| We Care Wellness and Health Insurance Plan | ₹1,00,000 medical cover per student, including road accidents, with hospital referral | 18,500+ registered students | No student is left without cover for hospital care, physical or mental | Student welfare |
| Max Healthcare | Complimentary health screenings | 1,700+ faculty and staff eligible | Health problems are picked up early, at no cost to staff | Human Resources |
| Practo (Sanjeevani) | Free online consultations with doctors, psychologists and therapists | 18,500+ students and 1,700+ staff | Medical and psychological advice without travel, waiting or fees | Student welfare and Human Resources |
| True Wellness (Main Hoon Na) | 24-hour confidential counselling through an app | 1,700+ employees and their immediate families | Families as well as staff can get help at any hour, in confidence | Human Resources |
| We Care helpline | Round-the-clock counselling and support helpline | 20,200+ students, faculty and staff | Someone to talk to at any time of day or night | Student welfare and Human Resources |
Beneficiary figures show who is eligible, based on 18,500+ students and 1,700+ faculty and staff in 2024–25 (UPES Annual Report 2024–25[9]); usage data are held by HR and student welfare.
Sources: UPES Health Facilities Report (PDF): medical insurance for staff[10]; UPES Student Support (medical insurance)[11]; UPES mental health support services (PDF)[12]
Expert exchange in 2024–25
Beyond formal agreements, UPES brought health and mental health experts from partner institutions in India and abroad to teach its students.
| Institution | Engagement | Date | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California, San Diego, USA | Session on improving mental health through implementation science, Dr David H. Sommerfeld | 21 January 2025 | 48 |
| Curtin University, Dubai | Three sessions on psychoneuroimmunology, academic well-being and positive workplaces, Dr Anitha Menon | 16–20 January 2025 | 80 |
| Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun | Talk on futuristic psychiatry, Dr Priya Ranjan Avinash, Head of Psychiatry | 7 April 2025 | 40 |
| IIT Gandhinagar | Research talk on the science of emotion and mental health, Dr Meera Mary Sunny | 3 October 2024 | 30 |
The B.Pharm. programme is approved by the Pharmacy Council of India for 2025–26.
Source: UPES Annual Report 2024–25[9]
Links and sources
- Wockhardt partnershiphttps://www.upes.ac.in/industry-connect/wockhardt
- UPES ties up with AIIMS, Drishti Eye Institute and Taipei Medical Universityhttps://www.upes.ac.in/blog/health-sciences-technology/upes-ties-up-with-aiims-dei-and-taipei-medical-university
- DSO Community Engagement & Social Impact Report (PDF)https://upeswebsitecdn-prod-hphqfhc0b8h2ffhf.a02.azurefd.net/drupal-data/2026-09/DSO%20Impact%20Report.pdf
- MoU between UPES and AIIMS Rishikeshhttps://www.upes.ac.in/industry-connect/aiims-rishikesh
- UPES and Doon Medical Collegehttps://www.upes.ac.in/industry-connect/doon-medical-college
- International collaboration with Leipzig University (PDF)https://upeswebsitecdn-prod-hphqfhc0b8h2ffhf.a02.azurefd.net/drupal-data/SDG/17.2.3.pdf
- 5-year accelerated MD pathway with the Medical University of the Americashttps://www.upes.ac.in/blog/health-sciences-technology/md-course-at-upes
- UPES R&D Newsletter, January–June 2025 (Prof Bhuvanesh Gupta)https://upeswebsitecdn-prod-hphqfhc0b8h2ffhf.a02.azurefd.net/drupal-data/2025-08/UPES%20R%26D%20NewsLetter%20Jan-June%202025.pdf
- UPES Annual Report 2024–25https://upeswebsitecdn-prod-hphqfhc0b8h2ffhf.a02.azurefd.net/drupal-data/2026-02/Annual%20Report-2024-25.pdf
- UPES Health Facilities Report (PDF): medical insurance for staffhttps://upeswebsitecdn-prod-hphqfhc0b8h2ffhf.a02.azurefd.net/drupal-data/2026-09/UPES_Health_Facilities_Report.pdf
- UPES Student Support (medical insurance)https://www.upes.ac.in/student-space/student-support
- UPES mental health support services (PDF)https://upeswebsitecdn-prod-hphqfhc0b8h2ffhf.a02.azurefd.net/drupal-data/2025-12/3.3.5.pdf