Experts discuss future of digital health at PGI, Chandigarh

Times News Network
Chandigarh: The department of telemedicine, PGI commemorated its 20th Foundation Day on Tuesday. During the celebration, guests, faculty members and experts in digital health reflected on two decades of pioneering work and discussed the future of digital healthcare in India.
Delivering the inaugural address, PGI director Prof Vivek Lal lauded the department's pivotal role in advancing telemedicine practices. The chief guest, Lt Gen (Dr) Narendra Kotwal, former Director and Commandant of AFMC, Pune, acknowledged the department's significant contributions to telemedicine. He underscored the transformative potential of various digital applications being implemented by the Govt of India in revolutionising healthcare delivery.
The guest of honour, Madhukar Kumar Bhagat, joint secretary (eHealth), ministry of health and family welfare, elaborated on Govt of India's ambitious digital health initiatives and the profound impact of integrated eHealth solutions in creating a patient-centric healthcare ecosystem.
A highlight of the anniversary celebration was the insightful lecture delivered by Dr Kim R from Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai. Dr Kim shared groundbreaking work in teleophthalmology, detailing the scalable and sustainable models developed by Aravind Eye Care to effectively reach rural and underserved populations through innovative digital platforms.
The event culminated in a panel discussion on "Optimising digital health in PGIMER: Insights from the experts." The panel deliberated on the integration of digital health tools in routine clinical practice, implementation of tele follow-up clinics, challenges in adoption and criteria for patient selection for remote monitoring, advancements in telepathology, and future strategies for enhancing patient outcomes through telemedicine.
Prof Jayashree Murlidharan highlighted the impactful Tele PICU project with the Sector-16 Hospital, emphasising its role in saving crucial "golden hours" in managing paediatric emergencies through a hub and spoke model.
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