Pandemic has presented opportunity to bring reforms in healthcare: Vice President
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, while addressing the 38th convocation ceremony of AAPI (American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin) through video conferencing, said the disruption due to pandemic is an opportunity to radically reform the country’s healthcare sector by harnessing the digital technology together with the tools powered by artificial intelligence. He called for health records digitization with the simultaneous creation of a national platform to facilitate the collection of comprehensive data of healthcare all across the country.
He added that the analysis of data hence obtained can provide valuable information to be used for improving the effectiveness of the country’s healthcare system. He opined that India faces unique challenges but unprecedented opportunities at the same time in the public healthcare domain. He also mentioned about milestones achieved by the country’s healthcare sector since independence. He said the country has dynamic biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries as well as world-class scientists with such prominent hospitals that even attract patients from foreign countries. The Vice President added that the country is the pharmacy to the world and he also hoped that India would soon emerge as the most preferred health tourism destination for the world.
He said that the medical facilities and healthcare should be affordable and accessible for all. He asked the organizations like AAPI to strengthen the government’s hands in its quest to deliver quality healthcare to even the last citizen.
He also emphasized the need to strengthen the primary healthcare system of India. He mentioned that the country is proud of its healthcare professionals and doctors rendering their invaluable services across the globe. However, he urged these healthcare practitioners to devote some time to augment the health care system of India. He also asked them to facilitate knowledge building as well as transfer skills and technology to India for it to become truly ‘Athmanirbhar’ in this field.
He also called for joint efforts to spread awareness among the public, especially among the students of schools and colleges regarding the negative impact of unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles. He asked the NRI medical professionals for sharing the best practices in areas of cleanliness, sanitation as well as nutrition while urging them to promote Yoga in their residence countries to promote health and wellness that will also strengthen the soft power of India. He urged AAPI to provide their assistance to the government of India in its efforts to accelerate technology adoption. The online event witnessed Dr Suresh Reddy, President, AAPI, Dr Sajani Shah and Dr Seema Arora, AAPI member and Dr Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, President elect- AAPI, besides other medical professionals and doctors, among others.
