Dr. Padma Gurmet is the Director of the National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR) in Leh, Union Territory of Ladakh. He was born into a traditional Sowa-Rigpa family and learned the ancient Tibetan medical system from his father since childhood, later formally completing his Sowa-Rigpa education.

As the Director of NISR, Dr. Gurmet has been actively involved in the development and promotion of Sowa-Rigpa, also known as Amchi medicine. He has participated in the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit, representing the institute and advocating for the recognition and preservation of this traditional healing system.

Dr. Gurmet's research interests lie in the field of medicinal plants, particularly those used by indigenous tribes in Ladakh. He has conducted extensive ethno-botanical studies and surveys of rare and endangered medicinal plants in the Chang-La and Taglang-La regions and surrounding villages. His work has focused on documenting the traditional uses of these plants by the indigenous population.

Moreover, Dr. Gurmet has been actively involved in addressing the health issues faced by tribal communities in Ladakh. He has emphasized the importance of improving the existing public health system to cater to the needs of these communities. Dr. Gurmet has also advocated for providing adequate health care infrastructure, quality services, and functional establishments in tribal areas to ensure equal access to health care for indigenous communities.