Affordable healthcare is a reality with technology, said Lakshmi Narayanan, Vice Chairman of Cognizant Technology Solutions.
On the occasion of dedication of a block for maternal and child health care at the Voluntary Health Services here on Monday, Mr. Lakshmi Narayanan said X-rays could now be read by doctors anywhere on their computer accurately and the results given within 60 minutes at one-tenth of what it cost two years ago.
Affordability would improve and cost would come down but accessibility was still a problem, he said. However, given its demographics, India had the capability and must be prepared to supply close to 30% of the world’s requirement of medical professionals, including nurses and paramedics by 2025.
Institutions such as Sankara Nethralaya, Childs Trust Hospital and Aravind Eye Hospital had already laid the road map for this, he added.
The Women and Children’s Hospital in Chennai had “some fantastic facilities” that could be tapped for research, he said.
M.S. Swaminathan, president of VHS, said VHS was founded by K.S. Sanjeevi, who was committed to providing health for all, a concept that even the World Health Organisation took up only much later.
N. Ram, chairman of Kasturi and Sons, recalled Dr. Sanjeevi’s mission statement while starting the hospital and said there could be no compromise when it came to providing healthcare for all. Kalyan Banerjee, chairman of trustees, the Rotary Foundation, congratulated the donors on their commitment to making healthcare affordable.
The Abhimanyu Block, with 65 beds was funded by G.K. Shetty Charitable Trust and the medical equipment for the block was funded by Usha K. Jolly Charitable Trust, said S. Suresh, honorary secretary, VHS.
Rotary Foundation has also funded the project under its Global Grant Project and United Way of Chennai.