Bengaluru: The sacrifices made by doctors to serve humanity amid the Covid pandemic is huge said Dr. Veerendra Heggade, Founder Chairman of SDM Group of Institution.
Addressing at the webinar titled, Reskilling Healthcare For New India on Zoom platform held on Friday July 16 he said, “we are facing unprecedent situation due to Covid – 19. We have lost many precious lives in the second wave of Covid. Its high time people should realise the sacrifices made by the doctors to treat the patients and save lives. We must get prepared to address the possible third wave of Covid and therefore reskilling the health care in India is the need of the hour,” he added.
The webinar organised a panel discussion which moderated by Dr. Sharan Srinivasan, Neurosurgeon, HOD Neuroscience, Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain Hospital and consulting Neurosurgeon of Manipal Hospital. The panel included Prof. Elizabeth Cherian Paramesh, Vice President of Alliance for Health Promotion (WHO) and also Assistant Governor of Rotary District 3190, Dr. Sankaran Sunder, Head, International Transplant Services, Manipal Hospital, Dr. Gurudev Konana, President of Ramaiah Group of Hospitals, K. S. Vishwanathan Vice President of NASSCOM, A Suryanarayanan Board Member, TiE, Bengaluru, Mentor, IIMB NSRCEL, Ex CEO, MNC Pharma Company, M.Janardhana, Director, SDM Hospital, Ujire, Past Executive Director of RUDSETI.
Prof. Elizabeth who started the panel discussion, sharing her views said, the Covid has brought new challenges, and upskilling and reskilling in the medical profession is the need of the hour. We need to adapt to the digitalisation to meet the need of current day. Medical colleges and certification teaches the basic but doctors and healthcare professionals must work on upgrading their skills. She added that upgradation should not be confined to technical terms but also we need humane attitude towards patients. Health care industry needs to be more compassionate while dealing with the patients. We must interconnect with technologies and other institutions in proper coordination for optimum results, she added.
Dr. Sankaran Sunder focusing on need of training for the healthcare workers, Asha workers in rural area said, we must focus on reskilling the paramedical staffs. As the nurses be with patients always, empowering the nurses with new skills is very important.
Dr. Gurudev highlighted the need for change in education system where more practical approach has to be adopted. He said, Covid has introduced a new chapter in the healthcare sector. Pandemic has revealed how fragile is our public health policies were. Now it’s the high time to restructure it according to the current situation by reskilling technically using digitalisation. But we also should equally upgrade our communication skills, he added. Further answering a question raised by viewers he informed that the healthcare industry has already adopted digitalisation and artificial intelligence.
Ramaiah group of Institute have developed Covid self care tool called sharpen app. Dr. Huilgol from Bagalkot has developed a skill development app for paramedical workers which trains in local languages.
M. Janardhan explained the noble initiative undertaken buy SDM and Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade to strengthen the rural youth with skills. He informed about the Rudseti model which trained the unemployed youth resided in rural areas and offered free training to the BPL card holders. The training has 70 percent practical and 30 percent theory approach. And after the training assistance will be provide to continue the practices. Rudesti model is based on Gurukula education system where students will become self reliant. It also focuses on developing effective communication and development skills, yoga sessions, shramadana along with the enhancement of technical skills. We believe that everyone has an innate potential. The programme covers 54 district across India. For now training is given to the aayas. In near future We will tie up with hospitals and offer training to the rural youth to provide health assistance in rural areas, he informed.
Moderator Dr. Sharan Srinivasan shared his views and said public and patients, healthcare industry and healthcare workers must come together to provide extraordinary care at affordable prices. Apart from this IT industry (hardware, software and innovations), and education institutions (colleges and certifications) should tie up with healthcare industries to handle the upcoming challenges more effectively, he expressed.
K. S. Vishwanathan said that technology played a huge role in making the healthcare services affordable and easily available. Now the devices are smarter and easier to use. Integration of medical sector and technology leads to infinite possiblities. Handling the health care emergencies like Covid – 19 is not just a responsibility of doctors we need cooperation from technological sector as well. Now a days only few multispeciality hospitals in metro cities have the opportunities to use the technological innovations and rural areas are still lagging behind. We need to bring all the health care centres including the one settled in rural area together in the upskilling, he stressed. For the people who are planning to launch start up in this sector he suggested building a technology based on cloud, focus on micro vertical, as far as possible try to solve the realistic problems.
A Suryanarayanan stressed on decentralising the technology in rural hospitals as it reduces the cost and more accessible to the people. He stressed the importance of insurance which is ignored by most of the people. Insurance not only helps the people but also hospitals during medical emergencies. He suggested to develop the technologies which offers personalised medicines and devices and brings down the time for diagnosis. Medical assistance, machine and equipment should reach at right time to save more lives he added.
Uday Birje, Co Founder and Director of Think Street Technologies presented the welcome address. Vikas Goyal Co Founder and Director of Think Street Technologies presented the vote of thanks. R. Vijaya Prasad coordinated the entire programme.
