Released on: March 3, 2008, 12:12 am

Press Release Author: HOSMAC Foundation

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: A day long conference organised by HOSMAC Foundation in
partnership with GTZ, India and IL&FS, Infrastructure Development Corporation
Limited brought together experts and policy makers to focus on making healthcare
services accessible to India's population

Press Release Body: IT in Health has far reaching results. HOSMAC Foundation, a
not-for-profit organisation, focused on the healthcare sector, last week brought
together a group of eminent domain experts and policy-makers to discuss the
'Emerging Role of Information Technology in Healthcare' at a conference in the
capital. It also instituted an oration in Honour of Sir Joseph Bhore. Aimed at
highlighting the need for integrating IT with Healthcare, the HOSMAC Foundation
Conference emphasised the imperative need for innovative assimilation of IT through
applications such as Telemedicine, Health Information Management Systems (HMIS) and
Geographical Information System (GIS) to maximise the reach of healthcare services
in India. Also to charter a way forward for practicing IT in Healthcare and look
beyond IT's role in administrative management.

The conference was inaugurated by Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, M.P. and Chairman MSSRF.
During his speech he emphasised the need for latest IT technologies in healthcare
sector that are available to the urban population to be made accessible to the rural
areas of India as well. He said, "The Government is committed to expanding rural
connectivity through a slew of measures so that rural users can access information
of value and transact business. This will include connecting block headquarters with
fiber optic network, using wireless technology to achieve last mile connectivity and
operating information kiosks through a partnership of citizens, panchayats, civil
society organizations, the private sector and Government." He expressed a need for
similar initiatives to be made available to Rural India in the field of health
information technology as well.

Speakers who addressed the Conference were experts like Mr. L S Satyamurthy of the
Indian Space Research Organisation, Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala from IIT (Chennai), Dr.
Sundeep Sahay from National Health Systems Resource Centre, Mr. K.K. Panchal from
the Government of Gujarat, Dr. S. Sabesan from Indian Council of Medical Research
and Mr. Vishawajeet Ringe from National Informatics Centre. The sessions were
moderated by Dr. T. Sundararaman of the National Health Systems Resource Centre, Dr.
S.K. Das from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Mr. Rajeev Pradhan from
HOSMAC India Pvt. Ltd.

The Conference focused, among related subjects, on the effectiveness of Telemedicine
for 'Delivery of Healthcare Systems to the rural and Remote Populations of India',
on leveraging Information and Communication Technology for 'Providing Healthcare to
Rural India in an Affordable Manner', using GIS mapping for 'Integrated Disease
Vector Surveillance'.

Dr. Vivek Desai, Managing Trustee of HOSMAC Foundation felt that "This conference is
a platform where industry experts congregate to address the dismal state of
expenditure and coverage if IT in Public Health System in India and look at possible
solutions".

India would also need to adapt and upscale innovations that take place in the Health
sector and look at larger outreach to promote better health practices, disseminate
information, provide solution exchanges, professional support, in short a clarion
call to invest on IT for better healthcare systems to make the world a better place
to live in.

The panel discussion at the end of the day had Dr. J.P. Steinmann from GTZ Health
Sector Support aptly concluding by saying that "we need to see IT as an effective
tool that will add momentum to the healthcare delivery system and bridge the gap
between the supply of services and its demand, that is, requirement of the people."


About HOSMAC Foundation
HOSMAC Foundation is a not-for-profit trust set up in 2005 with the vision to bring
about "An equitable and sustainable society where people live in dignity with good
health and in harmony". The Foundation is an affiliate of HOSMAC India Pvt. Ltd.,
which is a pioneering name in the field of Healthcare Planning & Management
consultancy in the country. The Foundation strives towards improvement in
development indicators. The focus areas of work include health, education and
environment. HOSMAC Foundation is also venturing into new areas of livelihood
systems, adaptability, water and more developmental projects which are in
concurrence with the Foundation's larger vision of empowering the community and
valuing life.



Web Site: http://www.hosmacfoundation.org

Contact Details: Mrs. Preeti Anand
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