New Delhi: The next health emergency is a matter of time. We believe, with our current tech resources, India can be confident of being able to tackle any exigency stated Lav Agarwal, G20 Health Track Focal Point & Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare while speaking at the Digital Health Summit 2023, organised by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) on Wednesday.
Chairing a session on Strengthening Healthcare Infrastructure through Technology, Agarwal added, “Technology has been our silent yet powerful ally in the battle against Covid-19. Through our data-first approach and the Covid-19 India Portal, we harnessed the strength of information from every district, every corner of the country. This portal, often unsung, became the backbone of our response, providing vital data and enabling efficient oxygen management, right down to tracking the movement of cylinders. It’s crystal clear that without technology, India would not have triumphed over Covid-19.”
Other speakers at the panel discussion were Praveen Bist, CIO, Amrita Hospitals; Dr. Vaibhav Kapoor, Co-founder, Pristyn Care; and Dr Anirvan Chatterjee, Founder & CEO, Haystack Analytics.
The Digital Health Summit 2023 was spread across six sessions including a panel discussion on, ‘Technology & Innovation in Healthcare – Delivering Healthcare beyond Physical Boundaries’, during which Girish Raghavan, VP, Digital Platforms & India Technology Center, GE Healthcare, said, “As we face the challenges in our country’s healthcare system, one critical issue lies in the gap between the potential demand for quality care and the capacity of our healthcare institutions to meet it. Technology expertise holds the key to bridging this divide. Through innovative solutions like virtual care and machine learning, we can transform the delivery of healthcare, bringing it to the fingertips of every citizen.”
Urvashi Prasad, Director, NITI Aayog while speaking during a session on Enabling Preventive Health at Scale said, “The paradigm shift from curative to preventive care is gaining momentum, and it reflects a positive change in the mindset of our health system. As we work towards building a comprehensive primary health system, integrating technology will play a significant role in enhancing preventive aspects, early detection, and access to quality care.”
IAMAI presented the first edition of the Digital Health Summit pres, a conference dedicated to exploring the transformative potential of technology in achieving ‘Digital Health for all’ in India. The theme of the conference was “Positioning India as a Global Leader in Digital Healthcare.” Set against the backdrop of rapid technological advancements in the healthcare sector, this summit addressed the opportunities, directions, and eventual winners that will shape the next decade.
