New Delhi: HL July 11, 2026
In a major step towards strengthening sports medicine and athlete healthcare in India, the Sports Injury Centre (SIC) at Safdarjung Hospital and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create an integrated healthcare ecosystem for athletes and sports support staff.
The agreement aims to improve injury prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and sports science services by combining the medical expertise of the Sports Injury Centre with SAI’s nationwide athlete support network. The partnership will also focus on research, innovation, medical education, training and capacity building in the field of sports medicine.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava and Secretary, Department of Sports, Hari Ranjan Rao, along with senior officials from the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare and Youth Affairs and Sports.
Speaking on the occasion, Punya Salila Srivastava described the collaboration as an important milestone in India’s journey towards sporting excellence. She said the partnership marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration between the health and sports sectors and reaffirmed the Health Ministry’s commitment to expanding sports medicine facilities across the country.
She also highlighted plans to strengthen postgraduate education in sports medicine, encourage newer AIIMS institutions to develop specialised sports medicine departments and promote research in areas that can improve athlete performance. The Health Secretary added that the ministry would explore collaboration with specialised institutions, including NIMHANS, to address the broader healthcare needs of athletes beyond orthopaedic injuries.
Secretary, Department of Sports Hari Ranjan Rao stressed the importance of developing India-specific research in sports medicine. He noted that many existing treatment protocols and scientific benchmarks are based on Western populations and may not fully reflect the physiology and requirements of Indian athletes.
Rao called for stronger collaboration between medical colleges and SAI Centres of Excellence to support specialised medical care, research and training. He said the partnership would help build evidence-based treatment protocols and strengthen injury prevention and rehabilitation systems for athletes.
Officials said the collaboration is expected to support the development of innovative sports medicine practices, improve athlete health and performance, and contribute to building a world-class sports healthcare framework in India.
