The Sri Ramachandra College of Management, part of the Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (SRMC), Chennai, in association with the Bangalore based Indian Society of Health Administrators (ISHA) will organize a three-day conference on 'Modern techniques and Administration in Healthcare' and an exhibition at the SRMC campus from 11 to 13 September, 2003.

Joy Chakraborty, assistant administrator, SRMC and coordinator of the conference, said the meeting, the first of its kind held in South India, would focus on critical issues in hospital administration affecting patient satisfaction, modern technology, quality assurance, cost reduction, HRD, value engineering, disaster and emergencies management, medico-legal issues and information systems in hospitals.

The conference would also present opportunities for interaction for hospital administrators, students, faculty, medical professionals, senior nursing personnel, manufacturers and representatives of modern technology and IT professionals. Around 300 delegates from different parts of the country would participate in the conference and 30 eminent speakers would analyze the critical issues in 12 technical sessions.

The objective of the meeting is to share the knowledge on modern techniques of hospital planning and administration, especially in areas like cost reduction and cost management, quality assurance, value engineering in healthcare etc. Public-private partnership experiences and health insurance system coverage for vulnerable groups and backward class also has been included in the deliberations.

"In India, healthcare industry is suffering from inequity, inequality and inefficiency syndrome. So it is an effort to join together and look at the best possible alternate solutions to come out from this crisis. Our sincere effort will be made to present some fruitful solutions to present and future healthcare managers" elaborated Joy Chakraborty.

He added that the topics for discussion at the meeting would include healthcare as an industry and role of hospitals, role of private sector in healthcare, such as public-private sector partnership, planning of hospitals and nursing homes, ethical issues and challenges in pharmaceuticals, biomedical waste management: current status in India, trauma and emergency medicine, telemedicine in healthcare, quality assurance and standardization in healthcare, insurance system for right to health: equity and justice, information systems in hospitals, strategies for reducing waiting time, quality circles and quality assurance in clinical and supportive areas, value engineering in managing cost, innovative approaches to HRD in hospitals, marketing health services, patient satisfaction, innovative strategies and safety techniques for patients and systems in hospitals.

An exhibition parading the latest innovations in the field of hospital equipment, modern diagnostic technology, IT hardware and software, waste management systems, publications and health promotion materials will also be held as part of the exhibition, said Joy Chakraborty.