Innovations in healthcare-A report published by HealthCursor Consulting Group

Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, The Honorable President of India unveiled a 50 page report at the ASSOCHAM's 10th Knowledge Millennium Summit on Jan 16th 2013. The report was titled "Innovations in Healthcare" and was authored by Dr. Ruchi Dass, Founder and CEO, HealthCursor Consulting Group. HealthCursor was the exclusive knowledge partner to ASSOCHAM for the event. The analysis and the findings in the report were well appreciated by the Industry leaders during the event.

A considerable amount of time was spent in  amalgamating the vast amounts of knowledge banks from the different actors in the healthcare ecosystem to present an innovation led heath care vision 2020 for India. The report envisages the theme of "Curing the Incurables-sharing of Innovations" for the 10th Millennium summit of ASSOCHAM. The Event drew attendance of the Who's who in the industry with Noble Laureates like Prof. Aaron Ciechanover, Recipient of Nobel Prize in Chemistry, for his revolutionary work on characterizing the method that cells use to degrade and recycle proteins using ubiquitin; President of India Honourable Shri Pranav Mukherjee ; Mr. RajKumar Dhoot, President ASSOCHAM, Dr. Rana Kapoor, Founder, Managing Director and CEO, Yes Bank Ltd. and Padma Bhushan Dr. B. K. Rao, Chairman, Knowledge Millennium Committee, Ex –Chairman, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Dr. H. K. Chopra, Chief Cardiologist, Mool Chand Medcity as keynote speakers.

The report is a practical document. The concepts, case studies and knowledge summaries mentioned in the report focus on action and their immediate purpose is to help policy-makers and program managers turn promises into implementations by 2020. There are many things we should and can change to get better value from the significant resources we dedicate to health care. If we could cite just one change that would make health care more sustainable, it would be transforming the front door to the health-care system. With this report we aim to highlight successful examples for a health-care system that thrives on efficiency, productivity and best practices. The clarion recommendations from the report intend to suggest an infrastructure and policy framework which will bring about a transformation into the Indian healthcare system.

Read Report review by Dr. Sanjeev Sood here

With this report, Healthcursor's vision is to bring this transformation in the healthcare enterprise of the future defines an approach which will support alignment and integration of key sectors affecting healthcare performance, innovative strategies ensuring all members of healthcare ecosystem work in synchronicity. A health innovation framework for action which can guide the design and implementation of policies to bring about this definitive change and boost national capacity for innovation is also being proposed. 

The current economic crisis provides an opportunity to reshape current healthcare system but the recent economic turmoil coupled with the high cost of economic recovery will likely limit the availability of health-care rupees. Hence, innovation that reduces the spiraling health-care costs, raises productivity and improves health outcomes is the best option for delivering a sustainable and scalable healthcare system.

We at HealthCursor strongly recommend innovation which is all encompassing, at every corner of the system and every level of the organization. These innovations should be held to an evidence standard but without holding them hostage to resistant establishments. In this report, it is not our purpose to grade  Indian healthcare system on its performance as many studies have already addressed this quantitatively and qualitatively.

There are huge challenges in bringing together bodies of technical knowledge in just a few pages for such a diverse audience. As such, these recommendations represent a first modest attempt to rise to the challenge. And much has been learnt in the preparation process – several valuable lessons for future summaries and for making the HealthCursor's knowledge management system dynamic and responsive.

Ultimately, the best lessons will come from reactions and feedback from the wide range of actors who read this report. We welcome all comments and suggestions (please submit to: drdass@healthcursor.com).

Thanks,                                                                                                                   

Dr. Ruchi Dass

CEO, HealthCursor Consulting Group, INDIA

Comments:

Very informative and also very focused. - K.Chandrasekhar, CEO, Forus Health Pvt. Ltd.- Winner of the Samsung's Innovation quotient award.

Excellent insights on the path breaking work happening on ground in healthcare - nice work!- Dr (Maj) Satish S Jeevannavar, Director- NationWide Primary Healthcare Services Pvt Ltd.- Company that bought the Family Physician concept back in Primary care in India.

Found the report to be very comprehensive. One report that touched upon all aspects of health from an innovation perspective whether it being service models, technology led initiatives or public private programs.- Pankaj Vaish- CEO, Healthfore (Religare Technologies)- IPIHD Innovators

Gives a good overview.- Dr. Zeena Johar, President, IKP Centre for technologies (ICTPH)




Report Reviews:

Professor - Healthcare IT, International Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR )- Dr. Dass’s  ASSOCHAM report on “ Innovations in Healthcare”  has showcased on the strings of frugal innovations in the last decade that has happened in the Indian diaspora,  quite comprehensively. This report would certainly inspire every  reader and health professional  to strive and contribute towards making healthcare in India  more accessible, affordable and accountable to the masses. The message is clear and simple, more and more technology driven frugal innovations using 'Public- Private- Participative frameworks' in healthcare is bound to alleviate health indices in India !

Hospital Administrator and NABH empanelled Assessor and a prolific writer on healthcare matters.

Read Report review by Dr. Sanjeev Sood here

The salient features of the report ‘Innovations in Healthcare are-

1. It offers practical and actionable insights into delivering innovations in healthcare. The focus of this report is to highlight the low hanging fruits to deliver an innovation led health framework using technology and also define road map for the future.

2. It discusses the innovations in the sphere of public health and providing primary healthcare services to the rural population to achieve MDGs by enhancing accessibility, affordability and quality in healthcare delivery.

3. The report is comprehensive in its scope and content and covers the entire spectrum of healthcare services and players in ecosystem at various levels to improve healthcare outcomes and reducing disease burden at community level.

4. The report is well illustrated with recent success stories and case studies in innovations in  healthcare.

5. The report makes a lucid reading along with well illustrated diagrams, pictures and boxes.

Overall, it shall serve as a useful resource and companion  for HCOs, healthcare executives and managers, physician executives, public health administrators , biomedical engineers , medical device manufacturing companies and policy makers.

Critics: