NEW DELHI,25.01.22-Considering the importance of digital healthcare access to elderly people and under the ages of Healthy Ageing webinar series, Hospital & Diagnostics Committee of PHDCCI organized a webinar on “Digital Healthcare Access Equality for All Ages”

Dr. K Madan Gopal said that currently our 8.6% population is old age which will be 12% in 2030 and 20% by 2050. He also said that life after 50 comes with lot of social, economic & mental health difficulties. He also highlighted about elderly people living in rural areas who do not have the Digital Healthcare Access. Dr. Gopal also mentioned that during second wave of covid-19 the demand for Telemedicine & Tele health has been increased drastically which has also made life easier for the patients specially living in the rural areas.

Dr. Gopal also talked about various initiatives taken by Niti Aayog for the elderly people in India and about National Health Mission as it provides opportunity for telemedicine consultation and has a wide network of diagnostic labs and provide primary care to all the people.

While welcoming the guests & delegates, Dr. Sameer Gupta said that COVID-19 is changing older people’s daily routines, the care and support they receive, their ability to stay socially connected and how they are perceived.

While mentioning about the work done by HelpAge India for elderly, Mr. Rohit Prasad mentioned about multiple determinants of ageing and health. Mr. Rohit said that Covid has disproportionately affected the elders livelihoods, income, loneliness and digital divide led to elders struggling with tech.

Talking about the senior care, Dr. Ipsito Chakravarty said that it is not the “lifespan” but the “healthspan” that matters; it is not the Quality of Life (QoL) but the Quality of Experience (QoE) that matters; it is not the “object” but the “subject” that matters. Dr. Ipsito further mentioned about Elderly-friendly interfaces which are very much important for Digital Literacy classes meant for the elderly.

Mr. Saurabh Sanyal, Secretary General, PHD Chamber proposed a formal vote of thanks to all the dignitaries present for sparing their valuable time and knowledge about healthy ageing with the industry. Mr. Sanyal highlighted the point that digital technology have taken in place in everyone else’s life however senior citizens are unable to access healthcare and lacking the digital accessibility.

The eminent guests present in the webinar were Dr. K Madan Gopal, Sr. Consultant- Geriatric care, Niti Aayog, Mr. Rohit Prasad, Chief Executive Officer, HelpAge India, Dr. Ipsito Chakravarty, Director of Gerontechnology Research Wing, Calcutta Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Dr. Sameer Gupta, Co-Chair of the Hospital & Diagnostics Committee, PHDCCI, Dr. Deep Goel, Co-Chair of the Hospital & Diagnostics Committee, PHDCCI, Mr. Saurabh Sanyal, Secretary General, PHDCCI & Mr. Vivek Seigell, Assistant Secretary General, PHDCCI.

The webinar was also supported by PHDCCI Annual Sponsors such as, Multani Pharmaceuticals Ltd; Star Wire ;P G Industry; Uflex Ltd; DLF Ltd; Continental Carriers Pvt Ltd; Belair Travel & Cargo Pvt Ltd; Radico Khaitan Ltd; Crystal Crop Protection Ltd; Paramount Communications; Superior Industries Ltd; JK Tyre & Industries Ltd; Comtech Interio; R E Rogers; AYUSH Herbs Private Ltd; Apeejay Stya Group; DCM Shriram; EaseMyTrip; Blossom Kochhar Beauty Products Pvt Ltd; MV Cotspin Ltd; Synergy Environics Ltd; Ajit Industries Pvt Ltd; P S BEDI & Co.; Indian Farmer & Fertilizers Corporation Ltd; Jindal Steel; Hindware Sanitary; Modern Automobiles; Livit Ltd.; Axa Parenteras Pvt. Ltd. ; Bhagwati Plastic and Pipes Industries.