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Health industry discusses IT for transformation

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CIOL Bureau
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NEW DELHI, INDIA: With information and communication technology becoming an inevitable strategic tool for transformation of industries, the healthcare sector is all set to strengthen its IT backbone and leveraging its benefit for revolutionizing healthcare industry. This is what the discussions at the first International Conference on ‘Transforming Healthcare with IT – 2010 happened here on Monday.

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“India can today say that we can do what the world is doing. We need to totally rethink on the solution to the last mile. Today there is tremendous connectivity across the world. We need to use technology to connect with last mile and create awareness,” said Dr Prathap C Reddy, executive chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group.

Dr Reddy further mentioned that Indians have the advantage to start fresh revolution in healthcare sector using ICT as it is free from legacy system. He added that change in the mindset of the people in the health industry and awareness are couple of basic elements that the industry should focus.

Sam Pitroda, advisor to the Prime Minister on information technology and innovation, in his speech on the occasion, highlighted the connectivity that India has and suggested that Indian healthcare industry should come up with its own instead of following the western model.

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“US spends billions of dollar on IT in healthcare services but still it is my personal view that the model is not successful. I have been going to a hospital in the US for treatment since last many years but I have to answer the same set of questions. They still ask my name and other details. As a patient, I would appeal that use IT to make my life simple. Indian healthcare industry should come with its own model and share it with the world,” said Pitroda.

Pitroda mentioned that the Government of India has built up 8,000 kilometers of optic fibre network and there are more than 25,000 telecom towers to provide connectivity across the country.

“We need to use these resources to deliver services. World over ICT has not shown major changes in education and health. This is the right time when everyone should think of using this tremendous connectivity available across the country,” he added.

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Pitroda said soon the government will connect all the 2.5 million panchayats in the country with broadband which will need various types of services for its success.

“Health services at affordable cost will be one of the key services among the host of services that will run through broadband network,” elaborated Pitroda.

Pitroda added that the awareness on health issues is one of the important thing for which there are a series of portals, that are ready with draft proposals, to be installed at various locations.

Pramod Bhasin, president and CEO, Genpact and Chairman NASSCOM, India called upon various stakeholders in the health and IT industry to come together and formulate a path for transformation of Indian healthcare industry.

“Both public and private sector need to come together to share their experiences and learn form each other so that we can evolve a successful delivery model for the last mile at affordable price and less time,” said Bhasin.

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