Global Digital Health Summit 2024 Concludes with Launch of Patient Centricity Index

Mumbai: The Global Digital Health Summit, Expo & Innovation Awards, held on October 4-5, 2024, at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, wrapped up with a focus on advancing digital health technologies.

A key highlight of the event was the launch of the Patient Centricity Index, a tool designed to transform how patient-centricity is measured, healthcare services are marketed, and the quality of care is evaluated.

Discussions during the summit centered around AI integration in healthcare systems, privacy and security in digital health, hospital safety, empowering women for economic growth, and the role of digital hospital transformation strategies. The Ayushman Bharat Scheme was also discussed, emphasizing its contribution to driving collaboration within the healthcare industry.

Reflecting on the event, Dr Rajendra Pratap Gupta, Chairman of the Global Digital Health Summit, stated, "Digital and health are not separate. It should be considered a force and should not be feared. Expanding digital solutions is key to improving patient engagement, but trust and privacy must be at the forefront."

He added that the Patient Centricity Index is an initiative aimed at ensuring patients remain the central focus of healthcare advancements.

Dr Rajeev Raghuvanshi, Drugs Controller General of India, emphasized the importance of digital health reaching rural areas.

He remarked, "While India is recognized as the pharmacy of the world, we must ask ourselves: are we truly doing enough for the rural population? Digital Health is meant to bridge the gap in accessibility and affordability, but we have yet to fully realize that potential."

During his keynote, Shri Bharat Lal, Secretary General of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), highlighted the role of digital health in ensuring equitable access to healthcare. He stated, "Empathy and compassion form the foundation of healthcare. The right to healthcare is inseparable from the right to life. This makes improving access, affordability, and quality of care essential."

In his address, Dino Cataldo Dell'Accio, CIO of the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund, discussed the importance of digitalization in achieving true patient-centric healthcare. He stressed the need for evolving standards and establishing secure, patient-focused frameworks to promote digital health innovations.

The summit also featured presentations from key government officials, including Amitabh Nag, CEO of the Digital India Bhashini Division, and Sudarshan Jain, Secretary-General of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance. Both discussed how digital technologies are reshaping healthcare access and the pharmaceutical industry.

The event culminated in the Global Digital Health Innovation Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to the digital health sector.

The two-day summit, which offered 16.30 CPD credit hours by the CPD Standards Office in the UK and 10 CNE credits by the Indian Nursing Council, fostered collaboration between clinicians, healthcare providers, MedTech and HealthTech companies, pharmaceutical leaders, and policymakers.

As the summit concluded, attendees left with new strategies and collaborations aimed at accelerating the adoption of digital health solutions worldwide. The event set the stage for a more connected, efficient, and patient-centric healthcare future.