Dr. Kiran Melkote is an Orthopaedic Surgeon practicing in Delhi NCR region at a tertiary care institute. He is a Director at AHRER – Association for Harm Reduction Education and Research – a body of healthcare professionals from diverse disciplines united by a deep interest in Harm Reduction as a critical tool for improving public health and reducing the burden of disease and deaths due to Tobacco, Alcohol and Substance abuse.

Dr. Melkote completed his MBBS from M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore and M.S. from Manipal Hospitals, Bangalore. He has achieved advanced certifications in Trauma and Life support, Complex Shoulder and Elbow Trauma and Joint replacements.

Dr. Melkote is a passionate advocate for Harm Reduction especially in the context of Tobacco use. He has a lived experience as a former smoker and is actively working on tobacco cessation and nicotine substitution as twin strategies for saving lives affected by tobacco use. He has consistently urged for inclusion of current / former tobacco users in tobacco policy groups. He strongly believes in country specific tobacco control measures based on the tobacco use pattern and has been advocating for a renewed focus on Indian oral tobacco use (smokeless tobacco)

He has written and spoken extensively on the subject and is currently working on improving nicotine literacy among Indian healthcare professionals.