Rajinder K Dhamija

Prof. Rajinder K. Dhamija is an Indian neurologist, health activist, researcher, and academician from New Delhi. He has been director of the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), Delhi, since 2022.

Early life and education Dhamija obtained his MBBS and MD from Medical College Rohtak. He subsequently obtained further qualifications including the Diplomate of National Board (Neurology), India. He was a WHO Fellow at the National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai.

Career Dhamija’s work spans stroke epidemiology, movement disorders neurorehabilitation and mental health. Dhamija established the Department of Neurology at Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC), New Delhi, and was its head before becoming director of IHBAS. He was additional personal physician to the Prime Minister of India between 2002-2014.

He has published more than 140 peer-reviewed research papers and book chapters.

Dhamija has been an expert /advisory member for several organizations including WHO, EAN, NHRC, NIMHR, UPSC, J & K Public Service Commission, ICMR, UGC, DMC and National Medical Commission.

Public engagement

Dhamija was leading IHBAS when it launched the National Tele-MANAS Programme, telecare for mental health in Delhi, in 2022.

In 2024, he was appointed as lead on the National Task Force on Brain Health.

He advocates for mental health and brain health for public health awareness and outreach on All India Radio and various national television and print media platforms.

Dhamija has advocated for public health awareness. He has hosted over 400 health education shows on All India Radio and national television, written columns for leading newspapers, and frequently appears in media programmes.