Sharad Vaidya

Sharad Vaidya (b.7 March 1936 d. 19 October 2000) was an Indian surgeon who specialized in cancer surgery. He established the Goa Cancer Society and founded the Gosalia Memorial Cancer Hospital and the National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication.

He convinced the Goa Assembly to pass the Goa Prohibition of Tobacco Act 1997. This act is the culmination of 30 years of efforts to educate the people and children of Goa about the harmful effects of tobacco on health, economy and ecology- and effectively reducing the rates of tobacco related diseases such as heart disease and cancer in the last decade of the 20th century. The law has been the harbinger of similar laws in rest of India and far ahead of similar laws in UK and Europe.

Vaidya spent thirty years on tobacco research. The educational material he produced is now included in the regular curriculum of schools by the Department of Education since 1994.

In 1986, he was awarded a Ornamental Silver Lamp and Certificate of Appreciation the 25th Silver Jubilee celebrations at the hands of the President of India, for “his outstanding contribution to Goa’s progress”

In 1989, Vaidya was awarded a Gold Medal and Commemorative Certificate on 2nd World No Tobacco Day for “his continuing commitment in the field of health to the cause of Tobacco Free Societies” by World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland.