Special Session on Advancements in Healthcare : Bridging Science and Practice held TODAY at ITC Sonar, Kolkata
Merchants’ Chamber of commerce & Industry in association with C K Birla Hospitals (CMRI on Saturday, September 16 , organised a special session on “ Advancement in Health Care: Bridging Science and Practice. MCCI and the CMRI Hospitals will partner in advancing medical science while also looking into the ways of implementing science with practice.
Addressing the Session as the Chief Guest, Shri Narayan Swaroop Nigam, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of West Bengal said that “Answer to the well being of the populace depends not only upon Science & Technology but also on the delivery mechanism”. He mentioned that with the advent of digital technology, data speed and cloud system, providing medical services have become possible even in the remotest area. He referred to Telemedicine centres all over West Bengal, where there are 8,000 touch points with 65,000 people taking benefit out of it. He also spoke about Suswasthya Kendras run by the Govt. for those who don’t have an access. These are the prime movers of extension of treatment, he added.
Shri Nigam felt that Science and Technical advancement have come as a boon to the mankind, it was as catastrophic as it seemed like. Vaccines were created, tested and put into use within one year. Science was moving along with the advancement of the disease. He extended sincere thanks to the scientists, doctors and technically skilled people because of which it was possible to deal with COVID.
The Principal Secretary pointed out that the concept of public health has changed a lot. Earlier, diseases like small pox and tuberculosis were extremely dreadful. With the advent of Science now, even a disease like Cancer is treatable with intervention at the right time. He stressed on an accessible, affordable and effective healthcare system for the masses, even in a remote area.
CMRI is poised to create a dedicated Oncology Centre to meet the patient demand, while joint replacement was another area in which patient demand has been increasing. The hospital has evolved a unique and groundbreaking Endoscopy Bariatric Surgery, a first of its kind in Kolkata, which the CK Birla Group hospital claims to be unmatched in Eastern India.
Shri Sombrata Roy, Unit head of CMRI Hospitals, Kolkata said, “We are approaching fifty four years of being the best in healthcare, with a record accomplishment in clinical excellence and patient service.
Following India’s presidency in G20, which gave priority to strengthen primary healthcare, health workforce, and essential health services to better-than-pre-pandemic levels, ideally within the next two – three years, CMRI will work on those lines for reaching out to more patients with their expansion and technology adoption.
In fact the entire health care sector has expansion plans over the next five years and MCCI has pointed out that core profitability after factoring in the impact of bed expansion will improve with an EBIDTA growth of 8 percent to 10 percent over a period of five years, a MCCI spokesperson said citing a Kotak Securities report. While the hospital space will remain constructive by a healthy EBITDA and free cash flows over the medium term period, the Chamber have concerns over the escalating valuations, the spokesperson said.
MCCI President, Shri Namit Bajoria, while delivering his welcome address pointed out to the WHO’s recommendation of all countries conducting a substantive gender equity and inclusion analysis grounded in human rights standards and principles to inform baseline assessment, design planning and implementation.” He told the media that MCCI was willing to partner CMRI in implementation of such recommendation and would likely work out a plan for it.
Shri Roy said, following the best practice and evidence-based medicine the hospital aims to create a haven where healing is nurtured and where patients are not just treated but cared for with utmost empathy and respect.
He said in West Bengal’s health sector, extraordinary growth was taking place. “Medical science and technology sector is an extraordinary phenomenon that needs to be highlighted in today’s time,” he said.
The introduction of robotic surgery was a watershed moment in this path. CMRI Hospital has completed 500 successful robotic procedures under the competent supervision of Dr. Rakesh Rajput, Director and HOD of the Department of Orthopaedic and Robotic Joint Replacements Surgery at CMRI. The state-of-the-art Respiratory Care Unit, overseen by Dr. Raja Dhar, Director and Head of the Department of Pulmonology at CMRI consistently rates among the finest in the country in terms of service and patient care.
CMRI’s commitment to Gastro Science under, Dr. Sarfaraz J Baig (GI and Bariatric Surgeon at CMRI Kolkata) evolved a unique and groundbreaking Endoscopy Bariatric Surgery. “Our commitment to excellence and innovation will redefine what it means to heal and the future of healthcare in Bengal.” Dr. Baig said.
There is also the need to address the challenges that hinder the translation of scientific discoveries into practical applications, through enabling policies from the government and adequate investment. Upgradation of infrastructure in healthcare manufacturing units is also essential to support initiatives that facilitate the transfer of scientific innovations into the hands of those who can use them to improve patient outcomes, Shri Rajendra Khandelwal, Chairman, Council on Healthcare, MCCI said.
The event concluded with a hearty vote of thanks by Chairman, Council on Human Resource & Skill Development, MCCI, Shri Smrajit Mitra.
(This story has not been edited by News Mania staff and is published from a Media Release)
