The Indian Podiatry Association (IPA) held its national congress, IPACON 2026, on 29 and 30 August, bringing more than 400 delegates and over 50 faculty members to Hyderabad for two days dedicated to diabetic foot care and limb salvage.
Hosted by the IPA’s Telangana Chapter at Firefox Sports and Resorts in Moinabad, the congress ran under the theme “Redefining Diabetic Foot Care Through Prevention, Preservation and Regeneration”. Its 30 scientific sessions covered prevention, advanced wound care, revascularisation and amputation prevention.
Who was there
The congress was inaugurated by P.V. Ramesh, a senior retired IAS officer. Guests included Naveen Yadav, MLA for Jubilee Hills, and Dr Gudugani Shridhar, Vice-Chairman of the Telangana State Medical Council. The IPA’s founder and National President, Dr A.P.S. Suri, attended alongside the Telangana Chapter leadership, Dr K.V.N.N. Santosh Murthy and Dr Reginold D. Lam.
International links were a feature. Dr David B. Alper, a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Podiatric Medical Association, made his first visit to India for the event, according to coverage in Telangana Today.
A young profession with growing reach
The IPA was formed in 2009. Podiatry in India has developed largely through doctors and surgeons with a special interest in the diabetic foot, alongside a small number of trained podiatrists and pedorthists. With more than 100 million people living with diabetes, the profession’s focus on prevention and early intervention is aimed squarely at reducing the country’s high rate of diabetes-related amputations.
IMEA POD Perspective
IPACON shows how quickly a podiatry community can grow when it organises around a clear clinical problem. Bringing surgeons, wound care specialists and policymakers into the same room builds the referral networks that diabetic foot patients depend on. The visit by an American Podiatric Medical Association trustee also points to a valuable opportunity: international partnerships on training and standards. For podiatry associations across IMEA, from the Gulf to East Africa, IPACON offers a model for national congresses that combine clinical education with advocacy.
Sources and further reading
- Indian Pharma Post: IPACON 2026 to bring 400+ experts together
- Telangana Today: IPACON 2026 begins in Hyderabad
- American Podiatric Medical Association