Dr. Neerja Bhatla is an Indian obstetrician and gynaecologist known for her work in gynecologic oncology, preventive oncology, and cervical cancer prevention. She served as Professor and Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and also led Gynaecologic Oncology at the National Cancer Institute in Jhajjar under AIIMS. Her work has focused on reducing the burden of cervical cancer, particularly in settings where access to screening and treatment can be limited.

Over several decades, Dr. Bhatla has contributed to research and clinical programmes addressing cervical cancer screening, human papillomavirus (HPV) epidemiology, affordable HPV tests, HPV vaccination, and strategies to support cervical cancer elimination. She has worked with international research and public health organizations, including the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, and with academic institutions in the United States. She led the 2018 revision of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging guidelines for cervical cancer and was the first Indian to serve as FIGO President, as stated in the supplied material.

Her contributions also include developing resource-appropriate guidance for cervical cancer screening and management, supporting HPV vaccination, and helping expand training for healthcare professionals through fellowship programmes, an M.Ch programme at AIIMS, and virtual education for gynaecologists. The supplied profile records extensive community outreach, including screening and treatment camps in Delhi and other locations, with more than 50,000 women screened and treated through her work. In 2025, she received the Padma Shri for contributions to women’s healthcare. Her clinical, academic, and public health work has helped advance cervical cancer prevention and women’s health services.

Educational Qualifications

• MBBS and postgraduate training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology; specific institutions and dates are not provided in the supplied profile.
• Additional professional credentials listed in the supplied material include FRCOG (Hon.), FICOG, FAMS, FNASC, and FNA.
• Recipient of a UICC ICRETT Fellowship.

Fellowship & Areas of Interest

• Gynecologic oncology and preventive oncology.
• Cervical cancer prevention and screening in low-resource settings.
• HPV epidemiology, affordable HPV testing, and HPV vaccination.
• Resource-based guidelines for cervical cancer screening and management.
• Women’s cancers and maternal health policy and advisory work.

Research Contributions & Publications

Dr. Bhatla’s research has addressed cervical cancer prevention, HPV epidemiology, affordable screening tests, HPV vaccine trials, and strategies for cervical cancer elimination. The supplied material reports more than 500 publications.

Selected research and academic contributions include:

• Led the 2018 revision of FIGO staging guidelines for cervical cancer.
• Contributed to research and resource-based guidance for cervical cancer screening, management, and HPV vaccination.
• Worked with the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Arizona State University, and Duke University.

Awards, Honours, and Recognitions

• Padma Shri, Government of India (2025).
• Dr. S.K. Ghai Bhandari Award, All India Coordination Committee of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
• ISCCP Excellence Award, Indian Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology.
• Women’s Leadership Conclave Award.
• Shobha Seth Wenger Distinguished Professor of Gynaecologic Oncology, AIIMS (2021–2023), as listed in the supplied material.

Specialization

• Obstetrics and gynaecology.
• Gynaecologic oncology.
• Preventive oncology and cervical cancer prevention.
• Cervical cancer screening, HPV testing, and HPV vaccination.
• Laparoscopic surgery, as listed in the supplied profile.

• Professor and former Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, AIIMS, New Delhi.
• Former Head of Gynaecologic Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Jhajjar, under AIIMS.
• Chairperson, FIGO Committee for Gynecologic Oncology (2015–2018); subsequently served as Past Chair (2018–2021).
• Chairperson, Gynaecologic Oncology Committee, Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI).
• Member of advisory groups on women’s cancers and maternal health involving NTAGI, WHO, MoHFW, ICMR, and DBT, according to the supplied profile.