Experts from across the globe in the IT & healthcare domain along with industry partners came together for a two-day twin conference organized in Chennai by Apollo Hospitals
Photo caption: Hon’rable Health Minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr C Vijayabaskar at the inauguration of twin conferences - 7th International Conference on Transforming Healthcare with IT & the 6th International Patient Safety Congress - hosted by Apollo Hospitals in Chennai
Chennai, October 22, 2016: The two day 7th International Conference on Transforming Healthcare with IT and 6th International Patient Safety Congress organized in Chennai by Apollo Hospitals came to an end today. The conference was inaugurated on Friday by Tamil Nadu Minister of Health, Honorable Dr. C Vijayabaskar, and concluded with address by Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu, His Excellency Thiru Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, in the presence of Dr Prathap C Reddy, Founder-Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited (AHEL), Ms Preetha Reddy, Vice-president, AHEL, and Ms Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, AHEL, and key dignitaries from across the globe.
Hon State Health Minister Dr C Vijayabhaskar while addressing the audience said, “Tamil nadu is in the forefront of Healthcare reforms and Chennai specifically stands today as a preferred destination for medical care. Vision 2023 document released by Hon Chief Minister of the state envisages Tamil Nadu to reach the levels attained by developed countries in human development that primarily will come from the contribution made by pioneers like Apollo Hospitals striving to provide universal access to healthcare facilities.”
The flagship conference conceptualized by professionals of IT and Patient Safety of Apollo Hospitals, witnessed participation of more than 600 delegates from across 14 countries across the world. Key speakers at the conference included Dr Adam Darkins, Vice President Medtronics, Anjali Joshi, Vice President Product Management Google, Andy Fischer, resident ISfTeH, Russ Branzell, CEO & President CHiME, Dr Jenny Shao, Health Information System Director, United Family Healthcare, HIMSS, Dato Dr Jacob Thomas, President, The Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia (APHM), Allan Goldman, Director, West Division, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, and Paula Wilson, President & CEO, Joint Commission International (JCI). Welcoming the speakers and delegates, Ms Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals said “It is a matter of pride to see experts from across the globe come together year on year and exhibit eagerness to exchange their knowledge and work with us to upgrade the standards of patient safety and technology in healthcare. Today, we are setting a stage for betterment of human health and would urge everyone to contribute in bringing about this change to build a better and a safer healthcare system on this planet. India will be the sandbox of innovation and cost-effective quality healthcare systems which will become global standards of care”.
As part of the conference, there was an Electronic Medical Record Standards Masterclass, as an outreach for socialising the EMR-EHR standards and the proposed privacy standards of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The conference also saw participation from around 30 start-ups interacting with potential investors and solution consumers.
Being the only platform in the country to bring in leaders from government, reputed agencies, organizations and healthcare majors from across the world, the events saw predominant exchange of knowledge on how technology can be leveraged in healthcare to improve the quality of life. “Technology today equips us to use patient’s data in a way that we are able to take healthcare from hospitals to clinics to homes and now on your writsbands or mobile phone. Going ahead, point of care is shifting to prevention. Data will come analyzed with insights on one click and will thus lead to better treatment. So the focus will now shift to preventive care”, added Ms Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals.
Highlighting the potential of telemedicine in healthcare Mr Andy Fischer, President, ISfTeH said, “Telemedicine is today taking the center stage with its growing potential to deliver better and more precise healthcare services. An informed patient is the new foundation that our future is set to grow up on. In that regard, we see it a great opportunity to participate in a platform in India, to bring in global ideas to the table for collective growth and potential collaboration. We are glad to have associated with Apollo Hospitals in this endeavor to further our efforts in increasing access to information in the field of Telemedicine and eHealth”. On the growing significance of technology in healthcare, Mr Steve Lieber, President & CEO, HIMSS Global, added, “Records suggest that across the globe, hospitals which leveraged high on Information Technology has higher and better records of Patient care and patient safety.”
Addressing the dignitaries and audience at the conference joint plenary session, His Excellency Thiru Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu said, “To ensure positive growth of an economy, the use of technology to bring access of health services to every citizen is a very important aspect. Only a healthy nation can have a healthy economy. It is therefore absolutely essential that best practices of patient care are adopted. I appeal to you to join hands in ensuring healthcare technology made in India reach the global platform.”
“Again today India is marching ahead in many fields and especially in the field of healthcare it is a most sought after destination. We are among the leaders in Information Technology. It is high time a fusion is brought between the Medical & Information Technology fields for putting in optimal use of technology”, the Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu added.
About Apollo Hospitals
It was in 1983, that Dr. Prathap Reddy made a pioneering endeavour by launching India’s first corporate hospital - Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. Over the years Apollo Hospitals has established itself as home to the largest cardiac practice in India with over 160,000 cardiac surgeries. Apollo Hospitals is also the world’s largest private cancer care provider and runs the world’s leading solid organ transplant program having conducted over 1,500 solid organ transplants in 2014-15 alone.
Now, as Asia’s largest and most trusted healthcare group, its presence includes 9,554 beds across 69 Hospitals, 2,326 Pharmacies, over 172 Primary Care and Diagnostic Clinics, 148 plus Telemedicine Centres and 80 plus Apollo Munich Insurance branches panning the length and breadth of the country. As an integrated healthcare service provider with health insurance services, projects consultancy services, medical education centres and a Research Foundation with a focus on global clinical trials, epidemiological studies, stem cell & genetic research, Apollo Hospitals has been at the forefront of new medical breakthroughs with the most recent investment being that of commissioning the first Proton Therapy Centre across Asia, Africa and Australia in Chennai, India. Every four days, the Apollo Hospitals Group touches a million lives, in its mission to bring healthcare of International standards within the reach of every individual. In a rare honour, the Government of India issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo's contribution, the first for a healthcare organization. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2010. For more than 28 years, the Apollo Hospitals Group has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting-edge technology. Our hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals globally for advanced medical services and research.