Launch & Introduction:
Following ‘The Brain Decade’, the WHO endorsed the launch of ‘The Bone and Joint Decade (BJD) 2000-2010’ in Geneva, Switzerland, in Jan 2000. Coincidental to the inaugural meet, WHO invited several scientists and experts on the subject to review the current scenario, identify gaps in knowledge and chalk out the future strategy to fulfil the key goals of BJD. Prof. T K Shanmugasundaram (Chennai), Prof. Dinesh Mohan (Delhi), Dr. Ambrish Mithal (Delhi) and Dr. Arvind Chopra (Pune) were invited from India to participate in the WHO meet. BJD was to be an umbrella organization encompassing all those who were connected with the bone and joints. National Action Networks (NAN) were to be set up, one for each country, to carry out the BJD task on hand. The BJD-INDIA: NAN was founded by the above mentioned WHO invitees. After incorporating some key national associations, BJD-INDIA: NAN was launched from Pune in Nov 2000. The Govt. of India endorsed BJD-INDIA: NAN in April 2001. It has been further recognized by DSIR, Govt. of India, as a Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (SIRO).

The BJD-India: NAN is a registered charitable public research society and trust as per the Indian law. Its structure and functions are derived from a constitution created by its founder members and several experts. While formulating the constitution, care was taken to follow the principle guidelines and policies issued by the International Steering Committee of the BJD. The constitution follows the well known democratic norms and values inherent in our system. It was approved and endorsed in the first annual general body meeting. Besides the founder members, each member organization has nominated one member to the governing body. The general membership is open to all but BJD-INDIA: NAN reserves the right to reject the application of any member if found not conducive to its aims and objectives.

The goals of BJD-India: NAN are no different from those of the International Body. However, the geographical and cultural diversity in our great nation has influenced our priorities and concerns. Further, we have kept in mind our own socio-economics when planning our strategy and programs. BJD India has prioritized creating general awareness about rheumatic musculoskeletal disorders both for the medical community and the Indian public at large. It has also set up several pivotal studies to collect population based prevalence data.

BJD India has cemented corporate partnership with few Indian pharmaceutical companies that have voluntarily demonstrated genuine interest in the BJD affairs and goals. This has allowed robust financial sustenance of our national programs. The corporate partnership has been restricted consistent with our budgetary requirements. The concerned partners have been made fully aware of their obligatory adherence to the International guidelines and policies of BJD concerning finances, ethics, use of logo and other related matters. BJD India: NAN will not endorse any drug or any kind of medical product/device being sold in the Indian market. However, it allows its partners to display their products etc during the sponsored meetings. BJD-India also acknowledges the role of the corporate partners in their academic and research deliberations and publications. Each corporate partner nominates a non-voting liaison officer to the BJD-India

Board / executive committee. All donations made to the BJD-INDIA: NAN research corpus are eligible to enjoy tax benefits.

Along with the rest of the World, BJD-INDIA: NAN celebrates every year ‘an activity week’ in October when several programs are conducted to focus the attention of the public and medical community on BJD in India.
12 OCTOBER- WORLD ARTHRITIS DAY
16 OCTOBER - WORLD SPINE DAY
17 OCTOBER- WORLD TRAUMA DAY
20 OCTOBER - WORLD OSTEOPOROSIS DAY

The Head Office of BJD – INDIA: NAN is situated in the premises of Center for Rheumatic Diseases, Pune.