OPINION/PERSPECTIVE/DISCUSSION

Special Issue: Proceedings of the 19th International Conference of Telemedicine Society of India—Telemedicon 2023

Krishnan Ganapathy, MCh (Neurosurgery), FACS, FICS, FAMS, PhD

Distinguished Visiting Professor IIT Kanpur, Director, Apollo Telemedicine Networking Foundation & Apollo Tele Health Services, Chennai, India

Keywords: 19th International Annual Conference of Telemedicine Society of India, emerging technologies, healthcare delivery, ISfTeH, Indian healthcare system, Telehealth and Medicine Today, Telemedicon.

 

 

It is a sign of the times that Telehealth and Medicine Today is publishing a special issue that highlights the Proceedings of the 19th International Annual Conference of the Telemedicine Society of India (TSI), which was held in conjunction with the 27th International Conference of the International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth (ISfTeH). This special issue includes the full text of two peer-reviewed papers presented during the conference.

1. Tele-ICU Management of a Trauma Patient at a Peripheral Center: A Case Study
2. Super-specialty Medical Consultations to Remote Areas of Ladakh, India through Telemedicine via Hub-and-Spoke Model: A Pilot Study

With a focus on “Emerging Technologies Connecting Indian Healthcare System,” the hybrid conference held in picturesque Goa, India, from November 3rd to 5th, 2023, attracted 325 delegates and 125 virtual participants. The trade exhibition included 52 participants (Figure).

Fig. 1. The Telemedicine Society of India acknowledges its gratitude for the participation of national and international speakers who enriched the 19th International Conference of the Telemedicine Society of India—Telemedicon 2023.

In addition to 77 platform presentations, there were 21 ePosters. The Goa and Maharashtra chapters, under the leadership of Dr. B.S. Ratta, conducted an extraordinary program. With 1,100 members across India, TSI is indeed unique in its multi-disciplinary membership. Clinicians, engineers, technologists, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) specialists, hospital administrators—all healthcare ecosystem stakeholders are represented. The 21 state chapters of the TSI across the country, including Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities of India, helped create the much-needed awareness.

In addition to Master Classes, scientific presentations, 18 continuing medical education (CME) programs, symposia, workshops, ePosters, a quiz program, and Fireside Chats, there were three days of 52 hours of deliberation, including an entertaining respite, in an ocean cruise. Prizes were awarded for the best papers. Invited speakers included a Director General of Police and college principals. President, Executive Director of ISfTeH, and renowned exponents of telehealth from the United States and the United Kingdom. The Goa Medical Council recognized the event as a CME activity, awarding it four credit hours.

The breadth of topics covered was extensive. There were 15 sessions on emerging technologies, future trends in healthcare and vaccine delivery, government initiatives, global telehealth and cyber security, telemedicine practices and challenges, building bridges for better health-care, a dedicated ISFTEH session, Telemedicine—back to Space, innovations, AI, and mental health; the past, present, and future of telehealth in India; telehealth platforms and devices; technology-driven hospitals for better patient care; and a panel discussion on remote monitoring of substance use disorder. In addition, the President/Secretaries of all State Chapters of TSI, industry corporations, and institute members held sessions to discuss future activities, with 50 technology partners presenting their solutions in healthcare demos.

In addition to delegates from the US, Europe, and Asia, officers of ISfTeH and American Telemedicine Association, the National Health Authority, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, the Indian Space Research Organisation, as well as institutes such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (New Delhi), Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Apollo Hospitals, Sankara Nethralaya, Aravind Eye Care, and Narayana Hrudayalaya—in other words, a “Who’s Who” of Indian Healthcare were present.

Virtual remote health care is now being accepted by all stakeholders in the Indian healthcare ecosystem. On behalf of the TSI, we once again acknowledge our gratitude to the editors of Telehealth and Medicine Today for reviewing submitted papers from the conference. We look forward to further strengthening the close bond between the telehealth community in India and the United States of America.

Dr. Ganapathy acknowledges his appreciation to Drs. Dorairaj Lavanian, Sheila John, and Murthy Remilla for assistance in shortlisting all articles initially submitted.

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