UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

UPES report · 2. Collaborations with health institutions

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
Everystudent and employee has 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.
    Screenshot of the UPES page on its partnership with Doon Medical College
    Source: UPES and Doon Medical College.
  • 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.
    Screenshot of the UPES page on the AIIMS Rishikesh MoU
    Source: MoU between UPES and AIIMS Rishikesh.
  • Global. An MoU with Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, 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.

    See also: Quantum computing in precision medicine in Events and activities.

    See also: Ayurveda and immunity: tradition meets science in Events and activities.

    Source: UPES ties up with AIIMS, Drishti Eye Institute and Taipei Medical University.
    Photo: Quantum computing in precision medicine
    Quantum computing in precision medicine (see Events and activities).

Health partners

UPES's health partnerships run from village health care to international research.

PartnerTypeSinceWhat it deliversWho benefits
Sewa BhartiNGO2008Free medical mobile van for villages near campusResidents of villages near campus
Mahant Indresh Hospital and IMA DehradunHospital and medical associationApril 2024Blood collection drive on campusPatients who need blood: 1,303 units collected in three days
Doon Medical College, DehradunMedical college—Joint research, student and scholar exchange, joint conferences, internshipsUPES students and researchers
AIIMS RishikeshNational medical instituteDecember 2021Long-term alliance for Uttarakhand health infrastructure; joint research in microbiology, biochemistry and clinical research; exchanges and internshipsUPES students and faculty, and the people of Uttarakhand
Drishti Eye InstituteEye hospital24 November 2021Exchange of research information and publications, joint research programmes and conferencesUPES researchers and students
Merck Life ScienceIndustry13 December 2021Scientific skill development for students, including training at the Merck High Skill Development Centre, ChandigarhUPES students
WockhardtIndustry—Links students and faculty with pharmaceutical practiceUPES students and faculty
Vaidya Chandra Prakash Cancer Research Foundation, RudrapurCancer research foundationFebruary 2025Co-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 agenciesGovernment funding2024–25A BIRAC grant for the SWACHH incubation centre, the first SPARSH-BIRAC centre in Uttarakhand, which mentors young innovators in public healthStart-ups and young innovators, including in health care
SAS Institute IndiaIndustryMay 2025Five-day faculty programme in healthcare analytics and life sciences32 faculty members
Taipei Medical University, TaiwanInternational university—Student and scholar exchange, joint research in pharmaceutical and health sciencesUPES students and scholars
Leipzig University, GermanyInternational university—One Health challenges in the HimalayaUPES researchers
University of Malaya, MalaysiaInternational universityMarch 2024Visiting 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 AmericasInternational universityJuly 20255-year accelerated MD pathway for UPES studentsUPES 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

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 every student and employee.

Everyregistered student covered by medical insurance
1,700+faculty and staff covered by medical insurance
24×7helpline and free online doctors for students and staff
PartnerWhat it providesBeneficiariesImpactArranged by
Group medical insuranceMedical insurance for employees, explained at HR induction1,700+ faculty and staff; 500+ new employees briefed in 2024 and 2025Employees are protected against medical costs from their first dayHuman Resources
We Care Wellness and Health Insurance Plan₹1,00,000 medical cover per student, including road accidents, with hospital referralEvery registered studentNo student is left without cover for hospital care, physical or mentalStudent welfare
Max HealthcareComplimentary health screenings1,700+ faculty and staff eligibleHealth problems are picked up early, at no cost to staffHuman Resources
Practo (Sanjeevani)Free online consultations with doctors, psychologists and therapistsStudents and staffMedical and psychological advice without travel, waiting or feesStudent welfare and Human Resources
True Wellness (Main Hoon Na)24-hour confidential counselling through an app1,700+ employees and their immediate familiesFamilies as well as staff can get help at any hour, in confidenceHuman Resources
We Care helplineRound-the-clock counselling and support helplineStudents, faculty and staffSomeone to talk to at any time of day or nightStudent welfare and Human Resources

The beneficiary column shows who is eligible; 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.

InstitutionEngagementDateParticipants
University of California, San Diego, USASession on improving mental health through implementation science, Dr David H. Sommerfeld21 January 202548
Curtin University, DubaiThree sessions on psychoneuroimmunology, academic well-being and positive workplaces, Dr Anitha Menon16–20 January 202580
Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, DehradunTalk on futuristic psychiatry, Dr Priya Ranjan Avinash, Head of Psychiatry7 April 202540
IIT GandhinagarResearch talk on the science of emotion and mental health, Dr Meera Mary Sunny3 October 202430

The B.Pharm. programme is approved by the Pharmacy Council of India for 2025–26.

Source: UPES Annual Report 2024–25[9]

This section supports UN targets 3.8, 3.b and 3.c.