Social Media’s Rise as a Public Health Powerhouse: Insights from the World Health Summit 2025
The 2025 World Health Summit Regional Meeting in New Delhi, India, hosted a pivotal session titled "Social Media as an Enabler of Public Health Outcomes," shining a spotlight on the transformative role of digital platforms in reshaping global health narratives. Hosted by NIMS University Rajasthan, the session brought together a diverse panel of digital health strategists, content creators, and policy advisors to explore the multifaceted ways social media is influencing health behaviors, disseminating information, and driving engagement, particularly during public health emergencies. The discussions, moderated by Aryan Chaturvedi, Digital Branding Strategist at NIMS University, emphasized the increasing importance of incorporating social media strategies into public health initiatives.
The panel, featuring Pratima Singh (Policy Advisor, Government of Alberta), Revant Himatsingka (Health Crusader and Change-Maker, “Food Pharmer”), and Dr. Vishal Gabale (Medical Content Creator and Faculty at Doc Tutorials), delved into the significant impact of social media platforms during recent crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid dissemination of real-time information, democratized access to health knowledge, and the ability to challenge stigma surrounding critical issues like mental health and vaccination were highlighted as key strengths of platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. The session explored how these platforms can be leveraged to reach wider audiences, personalize health messaging, and foster community engagement. The panelists underscored the need for a collaborative approach involving governments, creators, and platform providers to develop culturally sensitive and impactful content.
A critical area of discussion revolved around ensuring inclusivity and accessibility of public health messaging on social media. The panel examined strategies to tailor content for underserved populations, considering cultural nuances and language barriers. The emergence of technologies like AI, AR/VR, and chatbots was also explored as potential tools to enhance public health engagement on these platforms. The ethical implications of using influencers and celebrities in promoting public health messages were also considered, recognizing the potential for both positive impact and misinformation.
Pratima Singh emphasized the critical need for governments to collaborate closely with content creators and social media platforms to develop policy-aligned and culturally relevant public health content, particularly during global health emergencies. Revant Himatsingka, known for his impactful campaigns on food labeling and ingredient awareness, discussed the responsibility of digital creators to prioritize fact-checking, simplify complex scientific information, and present it in an engaging and relatable manner. Dr. Vishal Gabale shared his experience in effectively reaching a large online audience with evidence-based and accessible medical content, highlighting the growing importance of digital storytelling in healthcare communication.
NIMS University, as the exclusive host of this significant session, reinforced its commitment not only to medical education and research but also to leading crucial global dialogues on digital public health strategy. Prof. (Dr.) Balvir S. Tomar, Founder and Chairperson of NIMS University and International President of the World Health Summit, emphasized the university’s dedication to empowering the next generation of health leaders and communicators. He underscored the importance of social media as a crucial platform for public health dialogue and expressed pride in NIMS University’s role in shaping these conversations at a global level.
The session culminated in a call to action for all public health stakeholders to adapt to the evolving digital landscape, collaborate effectively with content creators and communities, and prioritize ethics, accuracy, and empathy in all health communication efforts. The panelists unanimously agreed that while social media cannot replace traditional health systems, its potential to amplify truth, connect communities, and ultimately save lives is immense when used responsibly and purposefully. The convergence of technology, healthcare, and communication presents a unique opportunity to advance public health goals on a global scale.
The World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2025, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, showcased India’s growing leadership in global health diplomacy. The meeting brought together over 5,000 delegates from 54 countries and featured more than 950 speakers and 160 sessions across three days. Themes of universal health coverage, climate and planetary health, digital transformation, maternal and mental health, and emergency preparedness were central to the discussions. Organized in collaboration with over 90 global institutions, including the WHO, UNICEF, ADB, Gates Foundation, and Siemens Healthineers, the regional meeting underscored the importance of bridging innovation and inclusion to achieve health equity.
NIMS University, established in 2008 under the NIMS University Act by the Government of Rajasthan, played a key role in hosting this pivotal regional meeting. Located in Jaipur, against the backdrop of the Aravalli Hills, NIMS University offers a diverse learning environment for students from across India and abroad. With over 450 undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs across a wide range of disciplines, the university is recognized by the UGC and is a member of the Association of Indian Universities. Holding accreditations from various regulatory bodies, including the AICTE, MCI, DCI, PCI, BCI, INC, RNC, and RPC, NIMS University has also received accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
NIMS University has established a strong placement record with over 45,000 placement offers from more than 1,000 participating companies, including major employers like Amazon, HDFC Bank, Tata, Infosys, and L&T. The university’s commitment to academic excellence and industry engagement reflects its efforts to prepare students for successful careers. NIMS University’s consistent ranking in the NIRF rankings (101-150 band under the university category in 2021 and 2022) and recognition as the "Best University in North India" by CEGR in 2023 further solidify its position as a leading educational institution. Its active participation in events like the World Health Summit Regional Meeting demonstrates its dedication to contributing to broader conversations on global health challenges and solutions.