11th IHD by Apollo Hospitals puts spotlight on technology breakthroughs transforming patient safety

As part of IHD, Apollo Hospitals also introduces a first-of-its-kind hackathon “Solvathon 2024” with IITACB, and THIT Conference merging students and startups for sustainable solutions

Apollo Hospitals, India’s largest integrated healthcare provider, marks the first day of its annual International Health Dialogue, an amalgamation of the International Patient Safety Conference (IPSC) & Transforming Healthcare with Information Technology (THIT) at Sheraton-Grand, Whitefield, Bengaluru. The conference was attended by Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for S&T, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space (Vice President, CSIR), along with prominent industry leaders. 

Addressing the plenary session, Dr Singh said “I would like to thank Dr Prathap C Reddy, Ms. Preetha Reddy, and Sangita Reddy for the invitation for this conference. As India progresses towards attaining universal health coverage, it is imperative to prioritize patient safety and digital health initiatives. The IPSC and THIT dual conferences are great health advocacy initiatives geared towards stimulating dialogue on healthcare policies and crafting a comprehensive framework for establishing a secure and efficient healthcare ecosystem. This framework will integrate cutting-edge technologies to make healthcare accessible to all. Furthermore, the brainstorming sessions will churn out unique and innovative solutions for both public and private healthcare players. Delighted to share insights with experts worldwide. Commend Apollo Hospitals for their pivotal role in healthcare. The theme ‘Future of Patient Safety’ resonates with our commitment to quality care. Technology is revolutionizing healthcare, but challenges persist. Transparency, collaboration, and patient empowerment are crucial. Let’s prioritize patient safety for a better healthcare future. Ending with Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’ words: ‘No one should be harmed while receiving health care.’ Let’s build a culture of safety together.”

“Holistic healthcare is the key…where an appropriate mix of various streams of healthcare are incorporated with the latest technologies keeping patient safety as a prime objective” Dr Singh added.

Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group, said “Over the last decade, the International Health Dialogue has been able to elevate the conversation and initiatives across our ecosystem towards patient safety. Our healthcare systems stand at the crossroads of a digital revolution. Today, as touchpoints for healthcare expand with digital and tele-services becoming more mainstream, so do the fundamental ideals of patient safety. Our approach to healthcare delivery must keep pace with the dynamic needs of the present and future generations. We hope that the outcome from the insights shared at this forum will aid the entire ecosystem in integrating more meaningful and futuristic patient safety measures to ensure India continues on its journey of building a healthcare model for the world to follow.”

Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “While India is taking massive strides towards a ‘Viksit Bharat’, strengthening our healthcare system is an essential stepping stone towards realizing that future. As we invest in healthcare, we invest in the well-being and productivity of our citizens, laying the foundation for a healthy and prosperous society. Gen AI is emerging as the cornerstone of this transformation, offering unprecedented possibilities to revolutionize healthcare services and add exponential patient-centricity at every step. We predict a mega trend of Heal in India, Heal by India and Heal from India. With International Health Dialogues we invite the entire ecosystem to work together to build a healthcare system that not only meets the needs of the new generation but also serves as a beacon of health, compassion, and progress for generations to come.”

As part of IHD, Apollo Hospitals also introduced a first-of-its-kind hackathon ‘Solvathon 2024’, running in parallel to the conference between Feb 22nd to 24th in Bengaluru, in collaboration with IITACB and the THIT Conference, where participants will immerse themselves in 36 hours of intense collaboration, building impactful projects to redefine healthcare through creativity, ingenuity, and community-driven solutions.

The first day of the IPSC conference started with a walkthrough of  Apollo’s SMART HOSPITAL- The Future of Healthcare- A Walkthrough’, followed by impactful key notes by Dr Preetha Reddy and Dr Sangita Reddy alongside Dr Carsten Engel, CEO of the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua), and Dr Dana Safran, President and CEO of The National Quality Forum, Dr Neelam Dhingra, Head of Patient Safety Flagship Unit at the World Health Organization (WHO), and Dr Joel Roos, Vice President of International Accreditation at Joint Commission International (JCI).

At the THIT conference, luminaries like S. Somnath from ISRO, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw of Biocon and Dumitru Prunariu, Former Chair of the UN Committee on Peaceful Use of Outer Space, convened to discuss “Transforming Healthcare with IT.” Notable participants included Russell Andrews, former Medical Advisor at NASA, and Thais Russomano, CEO of InnovaSpace among others, representing diverse expertise from healthcare, technology, and space exploration.

The theme for this year’s THIT was centered around the topic of “From A to l, Achievement through Innovation”; exploring the potential of Artificial Intelligence in strengthening healthcare services in India. Dr Karan Thakur, Vice President, Projects & ESG Operations, Indraprastha Apollo hospital, New Delhi kickstarted the day with an insightful session around the positive impact on the environment delivered through telehealth; this was followed by deep dive sessions around the role of AI in revolutionising connected medical devices and how India is driving innovation in healthcare on a global scale led by Vishnuvardhan Pogunulu Srinivasulu, Founder & CEO, Vizzhy Inc, Bengaluru, Lalit Singla, Founder & CEO, SteerXInnovations and Taslimarif Saiyed, Director & CEO, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms, Bengaluru.