Dr Chandrakant Lahariya is a physician and public health specialist with more than 20 years of social sector experience. He has worked at the forefront of health policy, including in polio elimination, routine immunisation strengthening and new vaccines introduction; and the design and implementation of the National Rural Health Mission. He has helped draft India’s first national vaccine policy, its third national health policy, and NITI Aayog’s strategy for a new India@75. He has first-hand experience with state primary healthcare initiatives, such as Mohalla Clinics, Basthi Dawakhanas in Telangana, and now health and wellness centres (HWCs) under Ayushman Bharat.