FICCI HEAL 2024: Experts emphasize health innovation, AI & legal reforms to shape future of healthcare

New Delhi: The 18th edition of FICCI’s annual healthcare conference, FICCI HEAL 2024, themed ‘Swasth Bharat, Viksit Bharat,’ began with an impactful day of discussions that underscored India’s strategic drive toward healthcare transformation.

The conference drew leaders, policymakers, and industry experts focused on advancing healthcare access, enhancing patient safety, and strengthening legal frameworks to create a resilient healthcare ecosystem across the nation.

Building on an insightful inaugural session, the first day of the event centred around critical dialogues on healthcare accreditation, diagnostic innovation, the role of AI in transforming healthcare, and navigating the intricate legal landscape within the sector. Each session offered a roadmap toward a safer, more accessible, and legally robust healthcare environment that aligns with India’s broader development goals.

In a session convened by Dr Atul Mohan Kochhar, CEO of NABH, healthcare leaders discussed the essential role of quality accreditation in strengthening the Indian healthcare system. Emphasizing that only around 20% of Indian hospitals are accredited, Dr Kochhar and panellists such as Dr. Y P Bhatia, Chairman of Astron Healthcare, highlighted the pressing need to raise accreditation standards across hospitals and laboratories to align with global benchmarks. Panellists stressed that expanding accreditation is more than regulatory compliance; it is an endeavour to ensure safety and positive outcomes for patients nationwide.

Dr Atul Mohan Kochhar, CEO of NABH, noted, “In the early 1990s, the Government of India tasked NABH with establishing laboratory infrastructure that met international standards, driven by the growing demand for quality in exports. Since the establishment of mandatory guidelines and ISO standards, including ISO 15189 for medical laboratories, we have expanded our reach significantly. Today, NABH has accredited over 2,500 labs, which collectively serve millions of patients every month, showcasing our unwavering commitment to quality. Our ongoing collaborations with state governments, regulatory bodies, and healthcare stakeholders aim to further elevate standards, with a vision to extend quality accreditation to over 100,000 medical facilities across India.”

Following this, a session led by Dr Om P Manchanda, Managing Director of Dr Lal PathLabs, addressed innovations in diagnostic technologies, including point-of-care devices and telemedicine. The session focused on how these advancements allow underserved communities, especially in rural and remote areas, to access critical diagnostics, helping to bridge a long-standing gap in healthcare accessibility. As the discussion progressed, panellists emphasized the transformative impact of such diagnostic tools in fostering a truly inclusive healthcare model across India.

With India’s digital health sector projected to reach $10.6 billion by 2025, the session on Digitization and AI Transformation in Healthcare, moderated by Dr Vidur Mahajan, CEO of CARPL.ai, explored how AI and digital technologies are reshaping patient care. Panellists discussed the expansive role of AI in enhancing precision in diagnostics and treatment, as well as in expanding healthcare accessibility to underserved populations. Dr Rakesh Mullick from GE HealthCare pointed out that responsible AI implementation is crucial, as it ensures equitable access and mitigates biases that may arise in technology-driven healthcare solutions.

Wrapping up the day’s discussions, a session on Navigating Legal Challenges in Healthcare explored the growing need for robust regulatory and compliance frameworks as healthcare becomes increasingly complex. Led by Dr. Ashwini Kumar Setya, Senior Consultant at Medanta Institute, the session featured Justice Indu Malhotra and Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra, who highlighted the importance of navigating intricate legal regulations to protect patient rights and maintain the quality of care.

Emphasizing on a proactive approach to legal challenges, Justice Indu Malhotra, Retd Judge and Senior Counsel of the Supreme Court of India said, “Ensuring fair adjudication in medical disputes demands specialized knowledge that general tribunals often lack. Throughout my experience in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, having a medical expert by my side proved invaluable. The complexity of these cases calls for insights that only a professional with medical expertise can provide, allowing tribunals to fully grasp the nuances involved. I strongly advocate for appointing medical or medico-legal experts to assist in such cases. Their presence ensures that judgments are not only legally sound but also medically informed, ultimately enhancing the fairness and accuracy of our healthcare-related adjudications.”

The first day concluded with the prestigious 16th FICCI Healthcare Excellence Awards Ceremony, celebrating individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the healthcare sector.