India healthcare is moving from a phase of prescription to participative model driven by patient awareness and education, said Preetha Reddy, managing director, Apollo Hospital Enterprises and AIMA conference chairman and vice president.

“With the onset of internet and varied models of information dissemination through information technology(IT), healthcare has evolved from a mere prescriptive mode to be one of a participative platform leading to predictive care. The key driver is IT which has led to increased patient knowledge on diseases and the therapy options. This is the future and the country will now be able to control and contain much of the serious healthcare issues, Reddy said at the Conference on Innovative and Sustainable Healthcare Management: Strategies for Growth organized here in Bengaluru by the All India Management Association (AIMA).

Giving a conference overview, Preetha Reddy pointed out that despite the healthcare sector being  confronted by dual dilemma of geographical and financial access, yet it is today recognized as the largest provider of telemedicine and an adviser to countries of Indonesia and Africa on the same. Even China is beginning to take cues about  this remote- access healthcare initiative. Mobile healthcare is viewed as an innovative concept to take point-of-care closer to the patients to address geographical access issues.

Coming to the challenge of financial access, there is a need for a sustainable model for Universal Insurance. “Everybody knows about medical insurance but its affordability needs to be addressed. The healthcare infrastructure requires an year-on year investment of Rs. 80,000 crore. If this issue is  addressed there is a paucity of trained specialists. India needs to look at technology for skill development,” said Reddy.

The one-day AIMA conference has attracted speakers from the healthcare industry to address on the opportunities in Innovative and Sustainable healthcare management, new business models in healthcare delivery, increasing reach, affordability and operational efficiency apart from focusing on complementary areas of technology, payment schemes and diagnostics which have a pivotal role in the creating a sustainable healthcare model.