Vadu Rural Health Program (VRHP), an initiative of KEM Hospital, Pune and its Research
Centre has been at the forefront of healthcare and research for more than four
decades. What began in the form of a clinic set up by KEM Hospital at a small primary
health unit in Vadu village to combat a virulent outbreak of diarrhoea in 1973, now
provides secondary level hospital based health care services to about 186,000 people
in 22 villages of Vadu area and beyond.

It expanded with the establishment of Vadu Health and Demographic Surveillance
(HDSS) which is assessing demographic dynamics since 2002. HDSS independently
tracks vital events including births, deaths, cause of death, migrations, and marriages
and serves to monitor trends in fertility and mortality inter-alia over time. It is now also
the focal point of several need-based national and international research studies.

In addition to conducting studies on mother and child health, aging, communicable and
non-communicable diseases, and clinical trials, VRHP is proud to have made a
significant contribution to the development of the local community, primarily women.
The residents of neighbouring villages are not just recipients of health services; they
have been educated and empowered to conduct community and hospital-based
research. Vadu Rural Health Program is now a well-known name in the realms of
international research as “Vadu” that continues to partner with national and
international organisations for conducting socially relevant and ethical research.

Mission Statement
“Provide evidence-based, sustainable and rational health care solutions for the rural
population using globally relevant community-based ethical research.”