GSICON 2026 Opens in Kolkata, Bringing Global Expertise to the Future of Ageing Care
By Suman Munshi, Chief Editor, IBG NEWS
Kolkata, September 18, 2026: The Geriatric Society of India (GSI), West Bengal Branch, has inaugurated GSICON 2026, the 22nd International Conference on Geriatrics & Gerontology and the 39th Annual National Conference of the Geriatric Society of India, at the New Town Convention Centre, Kolkata.
The three-day conference, being held from September 18 to 20, 2026, brings together more than 250 national and international faculty members for an extensive exchange on the rapidly evolving science and practice of ageing, geriatric medicine and longevity care.
The central theme of GSICON 2026 is “Reframing Longevity Care: Biology, Complexity, and Clinical Wisdom.” The conference seeks to examine ageing beyond conventional hospital-based treatment, placing greater emphasis on integrated, community-oriented and dignified care.
Distinguished Inaugural Gathering
The inaugural programme features Dr. B. K. Mondal, senior geriatrician and NHS 75 Awardee 2023, as Chief Guest.
Dr. Sharadwat Mukherjee, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal, is the Guest of Honour. Smt. Malati Rava Roy, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Women & Child Development & Social Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal, and Dr. O. P. Sharma, Secretary General, Geriatric Society of India and an eminent geriatrician, are the Special Guests.
Global Scientific Exchange
GSICON 2026 has assembled a wide-ranging scientific programme covering clinical geriatrics and gerontology, healthy ageing, frailty, dementia and cognitive health, gerotherapeutics, gerontechnology, nutrition, rehabilitation, elder rights, public health policy and innovative models of elderly care.
Major scientific sessions will address areas including orthogeriatrics, falls and mobility, community geriatrics, geriatric psychiatry, neurology, cardiology, pulmonology, nephrology, urology, endocrinology, rheumatology, haematology, dentistry, emergency care, medical ethics, gastroenterology, oncology, palliative medicine and bone health.
Workshops, panel discussions, case presentations, e-posters and interactive sessions will further explore nutrition, rehabilitation, nursing, research, cognitive and functional assessment, medication review, falls and respiratory care.
From Hospital Care to Community and Home Care
A defining feature of this year’s conference is its focus on expanding geriatric care from hospitals into communities and homes.
According to the conference material, GSICON 2026 places particular emphasis on community geriatrics, home-based care, rehabilitation, long-term care, age-friendly environments, functional independence and healthy longevity. The approach recognises that quality ageing requires coordinated medical, social and community support.
Three High-Impact Symposia
The programme includes three prominent symposia:
- Healthy Longevity in Asia: What Should We Do Differently? — an international symposium bringing together experts from countries including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Japan and the UK.
- Who Will Care for Our Ageing Population? — a symposium examining community geriatrics and social geriatric models in India.
- Sarcopenia: The Indian Guidelines — a national symposium focusing on an increasingly important challenge associated with ageing.
Honouring India’s Geriatric Pioneers
GSICON 2026 will also felicitate four prominent figures associated with the development of geriatric medicine in India: Prof. Dr. P. S. Shankar, Prof. Dr. Om Prakash Sharma, Dr. V. K. Arora and Dr. Kaushik Ranjan Das.
The organisers describe the recognition as an effort to honour visionaries who have contributed to the growth of geriatric medicine and the wider geriatric movement in India.
Empowering the Next Generation
The conference is also designed to involve younger healthcare professionals through case presentation competitions, e-poster presentations, workshops and a Geriatric Quiz. The organisers say these initiatives are intended to provide opportunities for postgraduate trainees, allied healthcare professionals and young physicians.
With ageing populations creating new demands on healthcare systems, GSICON 2026 places the conversation around longevity at the intersection of medical science, community support, dignity, independence and public health.
The conference’s broader message is encapsulated in its guiding line: “Ageing with Dignity — A Healthier Tomorrow.”
— Suman Munshi, Chief Editor, IBG NEWS
