Chandigarh: The Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, is hosting InProNeuromod 2026, an International Conference on Interventional Procedures and Neuromodulation, from August 21 to 23, 2026, under the aegis of the Association of Pain Medicine (AOPM).
A special media interaction held at PGIMER today brought together eminent national and international experts, who highlighted the growing burden of chronic pain and the need to strengthen awareness, training and access to evidence-based interventional pain management across the country. The conference has brought together around 80 delegates from different parts of India, along with international faculty from Singapore and other countries, for advanced academic learning and hands-on training in chronic pain interventions and neuromodulation.
Speaking at the interaction, Dr. Kajal Jain, Professor & Head, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, PGIMER, said that the conference was aimed at taking the understanding and practice of advanced pain management to the next level. “The purpose of this conference is to spread knowledge about chronic pain and the role of minimally invasive interventions, so that patients can achieve better pain relief and return to their day-to-day activities.”
She said the three-day programme had brought together internationally renowned experts and Indian specialists to provide participants with exposure to advanced interventions, particularly neuromodulation. The conference also emphasised practical, skill-based learning so that trained doctors could subsequently take these techniques to different parts of the country.
Prof. Babita Ghai, Organising Secretary, InProNeuromod 2026, said that the conference aimed to bridge advances in pain medicine with practical clinical skills. “Our endeavour is to bring knowledge, expertise and hands-on training together, enabling clinicians to adopt contemporary pain-management techniques safely and appropriately. Through InProNeuromod 2026, we hope to strengthen the pool of trained professionals and promote personalised, evidence-based pain care across the country.”
Dr. Jeetinder Kaur, Professor, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, PGIMER, underlined the importance of taking specialised knowledge beyond tertiary centres. She noted that the development of trained professionals across different parts of the country would help reduce the dependence of patients on a limited number of specialised centres and improve access to appropriate pain interventions.
The experts also stressed that chronic pain should not simply be accepted as an inevitable consequence of ageing, illness or previous surgery. Modern pain medicine increasingly focuses on accurate diagnosis, appropriate patient selection and personalised treatment rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Dr. Preet Anand, international faculty from Singapore, highlighted the importance of developing specialised expertise in interventional pain management. He explained that chronic pain often requires a multidisciplinary approach involving pain physicians, physiotherapists, psychologists and other healthcare professionals, with interventional procedures forming an important component for appropriately selected patients. “Intervention is one important part of chronic pain management, and our focus here is on developing the skill set required to deliver these procedures safely and precisely to the right patients.”
He emphasised the importance of imaging guidance, including fluoroscopy and ultrasound, in enabling precise targeting of the source of pain and providing appropriately selected therapies that can offer sustained relief and improve quality of life.
Dr. Preeti Doshi, Director, Pain Medicine, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, an expert in neuromodulation, said that patients with persistent pain following spinal surgery represent an important group requiring specialised assessment and management. “Not every patient with persistent pain needs another surgery. With appropriate assessment and selection, interventional therapies can help control pain and improve quality of life in patients who may not benefit from repeated surgical procedures.”
She further stressed the need to improve awareness among patients and primary-care practitioners about the availability of pain specialists and structured treatment pathways. According to her, management can range from medication and lifestyle modification to targeted injections and advanced neuromodulation, depending upon the diagnosis and individual patient requirements.
Dr. Nitika Goel, Additional Professor, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, PGIMER, highlighted the importance of recognising pain as a distinct clinical problem that warrants systematic assessment. The experts pointed out that patients frequently approach primary physicians or other specialists without being aware that dedicated pain-management services are available. Better awareness and appropriate referral can therefore help patients access specialist care at an earlier stage.
A major highlight of InProNeuromod 2026 has been the advanced neuromodulation workshop, featuring hands-on learning and demonstrations by national and international experts. The programme covers the spectrum of image-guided interventions, including ultrasound- and fluoroscopy-guided procedures, as well as advanced neuromodulation techniques.
Dr. Yanzhi Zang, Changi General Hospital, Singapore, said that the conference offered an important platform for sharing knowledge across geographical and cultural boundaries. “Pain is an individualised experience and is deeply influenced by the social and cultural environment of the patient. Therefore, management also has to be individualised. This programme is an excellent opportunity to broaden perspectives and understand how different interventions can benefit patients across the spectrum of chronic pain.”
He added that with India’s vast population and the limited availability of pain specialists, expanding knowledge and training among doctors with an interest in pain medicine could significantly improve access to appropriate treatment.
Dr. Zang further emphasised that advances in pain medicine are not merely about sophisticated equipment but, more importantly, about accurate diagnosis and selecting the right treatment for the right patient. He noted that improved understanding of different pain conditions, including axial and radicular pain and persistent spinal pain syndromes, enables clinicians to tailor treatment more effectively.
The experts said that the ultimate objective of interventional pain medicine is not merely to reduce a numerical pain score but to help patients regain *function, independence and quality of life.
The conference, through its academic sessions, demonstrations and hands-on training, seeks to create a pool of trained professionals capable of taking contemporary interventional pain-management practices to different parts of India.
Concluding the interaction, the experts aptly summed up the philosophy of modern pain medicine: “Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.”
Through InProNeuromod 2026, PGIMER has reiterated its commitment to advancing knowledge, strengthening clinical skills and promoting patient-centric, personalised and evidence-based approaches to the management of chronic pain.
