Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, April 19 

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome affects 19.3 percent of young women in India, or about 44 million people, with prevalence in Kashmir estimated to be significantly higher at nearly 30 percent, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The study, conducted under the Indian Council of Medical Research task force and coordinated nationally by Muhammad Ashraf Ganie, is described as one of the largest efforts to assess the scale of the disorder.

Speaking at the 6th annual international conference of the MP-PCOS Society at SKIMS in Srinagar, Yoginder Gupta said the higher prevalence in Kashmir pointed to a disproportionate regional burden and called for coordinated action.

“PCOS can no longer be addressed in isolation,” Gupta said, urging a multi-sectoral response to tackle the condition and its wider health and social implications.

He also highlighted research led by Ganie at SKIMS, saying it had contributed significantly to national and global understanding of the disorder, including its clinical and societal impact.

The two-day conference brought together national and international experts to discuss the rising burden of endocrine disorders and non-communicable diseases.

Chief guest Manilka Sumanatilleke said PCOS remained under-recognised in several countries and that insights from research presented at SKIMS could help strengthen responses elsewhere.

In his address, Ganie, who is also director of SKIMS and president of the MP-PCOS Society, emphasised the need for evidence-based policymaking and highlighted the institute’s research contributions.

The event was attended by academics and medical professionals including Nilofar Khan and other senior faculty.

Experts at the conference said tackling PCOS requires sustained investment in research, awareness and healthcare systems, as the condition is increasingly linked to broader metabolic and non-communicable diseases.