Telemedicon to focus on digital healthcare

The 12th international conference 'Telemedicon 2016' on November 10-12 here will focus on the digital transformation in healthcare in India, said an official on Tuesday.

"Digital interventions have not only improved access, affordability and quality of healthcare, but also created opportunities for innovations in the primary healthcare sector in the country," said Telemedicon organising secretary Sanjay Sharma in a statement here.

Organised by the Telemedicine Society of India in collaboration with the American Telemedicine Association, the three-day conclave is expected to generate business worth $20 million (Rs 133 crore) through sale of healthcare products and solutions.

"The opening of telemedicine centres by private hospitals and setting up of innovation centres by global medical device makers have spawned start-ups and partnership with multinationals across the country," asserted Sharma.

About 500 delegates from the world over, including executives from leading hospitals, policy makers, entrepreneurs, technocrats, specialists, doctors and clinicians will brainstorm on digital revolution in healthcare worldwide.

The event will also have about 50 exhibitors showcasing digital technologies, medical devices and services being offered worldwide in the healthcare industry.

Among the noted speakers and panellists at the conclave are Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar, Narayana Health Chairman Devi Shetty, Telemedicine Society of India President B.N. Mohanty, American Telemedicine Association Chief Executive Jonathan Linkous, Manipal Hospitals President Nagendra Swamy and PricewaterCooperhouse partner Rana Mehta.

"The conference will unfold the vision of integrating digital technology in healthcare to create innovative solutions for problems faced by the sector," said Linkous in the statement.

According to Mehta, healthcare is one of the fastest growing sectors in India, with a cumulative average growth rate of 18.3 per cent since 2012 to become a $280-billion industry by 2020.

"The healthcare sector, however, is bedevilled with problems and challenges due to lack of infrastructure and human resources and shift in disease burden to non-communicable diseases to low health insurance penetration, which present an opportunity to invest and enhance digital interventions," asserted Mehta.

The event will also have panel discussions on digital health - practice, legal & policy, technology, hospitals, defence, stat initiatives and wearable technologies.

--IANS

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