The central government will take steps to encourage public-private partnership ventures in the healthcare sector to augment the healthcare facilities in the country soon. Information Technology, in this regard, can play a key role in improving healthcare facilities in the country, especially in the remote areas of the country, said Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Anbumani Ramadoss. And this technology would also be included in disease surveillance and telemedicine programmes.

Speaking at the concluding session of the 7th Annual Baramati Initiative on ICT and Development on March 17, the Union Minister said that, the role of the government in this regard will be that of a catalyst and as a facilitator. The government will not leave any stones unreturned to make the PPP mechanism work successfully in the health sector for the benefit of crore of people of this country.

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar presided over the special plenary session on 'the future of E-health' on March 17. Speaking on the occasion, Sharad Pawar stressed on the role of ICT as an effective tool, which can support and improve the livelihoods of rural families.

"We should have full integration of biotechnology with food and agricultural systems. E-health, like e-Agri, is a fundamental need for the empowerment of rural India and therefore planning and implementation go hand in hand. I am glad to see that some efforts in this direction have been initiated, and we will fully assist them in taking this effort forward," he said.

Speakers in the 2-day conference emphasized on the application of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) to empower rural India. This year's conference delved on health solutions for the Indian rural economy through ICTs that can be effectively deployed to provide sustainable growth impetus to the pharma and healthcare sector.

Rajeeva Ratna Shah, member secretary, Planning Commission and Chris Thomas, chief strategist at Intel Corporation were the chief guest and guest of honour at the inaugural session on March 16. Speaking at the event, Shah emphasized on the critical need for delivering quality health services to people with ICT as an enabling tool to reach out to the masses.

Dr Ramadoss released the Yes Bank knowledge report on 'E-health-- opportunities and challenges in India'. The report focuses on the benefits of ICT's in healthcare delivery systems. It also covers international initiatives implemented in various countries in order to leverage the advancement in information and communication technology in healthcare and the need to implement this on a sustainable basis using public-private partnerships.

Sharad Pawar released the second Yes Bank knowledge report on 'Health and Healthcare in India'. The report highlights the trends covering infrastructure and hospital resources along with the key achievements and shortcomings of rural healthcare.