1. It is an honour to be present here today on a global stage right here in the city of Hyderabad. As a medical doctor, I have been acutely aware of the need to ensure that patients in India have access to the latest and the best of medical technology that is available. This is especially so with the world’s largest government funded healthcare scheme – Ayushman Bharat – growing from success to success in fulfillment of the Government’s commitment to make healthcare accessible to all the Indian citizens.
2. It is indeed heartening to see medical conferences on an international scale being organised with representation from the medical profession from across the world. I am sure that the exchange of knowledge that will take place and the exposure to the latest developments in medicine across the world will arm our doctors with the skills to deliver the best of care to their patients.
3. Technology is changing the world we live in. Moreover, healthcare is an area that has the greatest potential to benefit from technology. Indeed, it can transform healthcare! Today we have digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, 3D-printing, robotics and nanotechnology, that have changed the face of modern medicine.It is essential for Indian doctors to familiarize with the latest developments in order to be able to control technology and not the other way around.
4. India has a rich history of contribution to the field of medicine. Sushruta, known as the father of modern medicine and father of plastic surgery, invented and developed surgical procedures that has considerable knowledge of relevance even today and laid down the foundation of Ayurveda – the classical medicine system of India. It is hoped that conferences such as these provide a platform for doctors from foreign countries to gain exposure to our ancient science.
5. Indian culture always places great importance on taking care of guests. For hospitals, patients are special guests who need to be taken care of with great love and complete attention. I am therefore happy to see a conference dedicated to Patient Safety taking place here alongside the one covering information technology in healthcare.
6. Patient safety is an issue that is a problem not just for India but is also a major issue in developed countries like UK and USA. If this is taken care of, it can lead to saving of money that is spent in dealing with adverse events. The money saved can be used to deliver better care to patients who need affordable and accessible healthcare.
7. I am sure that with our Indian specialists as well as global experts on the subject discussing the role of proactive practices and streamlined systems in improving patient safety, we will get many good suggestions that can be evaluated for integration into a national policy to improve patient safety.
Let us make the best use of technology to work for patient safety as well as to fight the rising problem of Non Communicable Diseases that is a big challenge to our country and to the world. This is a pledge we all need to take!
Thank you
Jai Hind!