VISION

Over the past decade, India has witnessed transformative growth across multiple sectors, including significant expansion in access to healthcare as the nation advances toward Universal Health Coverage. While access has improved substantially, the quality of care has not consistently kept pace. Wide variations in clinical practice persist, often characterized by delayed or inaccurate diagnosis, irrational or suboptimal therapeutic decisions, and consequently, avoidable adverse outcomes. At this critical juncture, the development of succinct, evidence-based clinical guidance supported by robust monitoring mechanisms is essential to enhance quality of care, optimize costs, and minimize malpractice.

Clinical Practice Guidelines and Consensus Statements serve as powerful instruments in this regard, as they reflect the collective wisdom of domain experts committed to achieving superior clinical outcomes. When thoughtfully formulated and diligently implemented, such guidance ensures that patients receive the highest standard of evidence-based and ethical care.

AICAR seeks to make a meaningful contribution toward promoting “Best Clinical Cardiovascular Practice” in India through the following strategic initiatives:

1. Harnessing Existing Epidemiological Data

AICAR aims to systematically identify and consolidate existing epidemiological data on cardiovascular diseases in India, including resources such as ICMR registries and other governmental datasets, along with significant non-governmental initiatives at institutional, regional, and national levels. Selected contemporary datasets were presented during AICAR Conclave 2026.

The widespread implementation of NABH accreditation standards has strengthened electronic medical record (EMR) systems across major hospitals. Retrospective data mining of these structured records presents a valuable opportunity to develop robust, disease-specific databases. Furthermore, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies enables the analysis of large-scale datasets to facilitate patient-centric, data-driven clinical insights. AICAR proposes to leverage AI-enabled methodologies to systematically extract, categorize, and analyze existing data, thereby supporting the formulation of scientifically rigorous Consensus Statements on priority cardiovascular conditions in India.

2. Generating India-Centric Evidence

Given the distinctive epidemiological profile of cardiovascular disease in India including higher prevalence of specific risk factors, earlier age of onset, unique healthcare delivery challenges, and marked socio-economic diversity there is a pressing need to generate context-specific data. As India moves toward substantially increasing public health expenditure, investment in structured national programs for the development of credible, evidence-based clinical guidelines becomes imperative.

In alignment with this national vision, AICAR, though newly established, is committed to contributing meaningfully through the generation and assimilation of high-quality data in critical domains of cardiovascular medicine. As a significant step forward, AICAR is in the process of initiating a nationwide “Acute Heart Failure Registry” encompassing multiple geographic zones of the country.

3. Strengthening Research Quality and Capacity

Recent reforms in medical education policy have made research engagement mandatory for faculty and students, resulting in a notable rise in scientific publications from India. Initiatives such as the Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI), the Fund for Improvement of Science & Technology (FIST), and the “One Nation, One Subscription” (ONOS) program have further strengthened the research ecosystem.

However, the quantitative expansion of research output has not always been paralleled by commensurate improvements in methodological rigor and impact. Recognizing this gap, AICAR intends to enhance the quality of cardiovascular research in India by offering financial, academic, and logistical support to emerging research-oriented clinicians, particularly early-career cardiologists.

4. Creating Dedicated Academic Platforms

AICAR is committed to organizing focused scientific meetings designed to provide a dedicated platform for the presentation of India-centric research and meaningful deliberation on relevant cardiovascular topics. AICAR Conclave 2026 marked the first distinctive step in this direction, setting the tone for future academic engagements centered on indigenous evidence and clinical relevance.