The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, on April 17, 2023, inaugurated the Koita Centre for Digital Health (KCDH). The centre was first announced in June 2021, with the goal of driving academic programs, research, and industry collaborations in the digital health space. It was funded by the Koita Foundation, established by IIT Bombay's Distinguished Alumnus and Co-founder of CitiusTech, Mr. Rizwan Koita, and Distinguished Service Awardee Ms. Rekha Koita.
First-of-its-kind in India
The KCDH is the first of its kind in India and has been established to focus on promoting research and entrepreneurship in digital health informatics. The centre aims to hone some of the best minds and create a cadre of professionals who can improve healthcare quality, accessibility, and affordability through their expertise in the field of digital health.
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Symposium on digital solutions for healthcare in India
During the inaugural event, a symposium was held which brought together thought leaders and researchers in technology and healthcare from hospitals, government, academia, and industry. The panelists presented their views on how digital solutions can transform healthcare in India, discussing topics such as managing large healthcare data sets, the use of advanced technologies like AI/ML in personalized medicine, disease modeling for public health, the importance of local innovation in digital health, and the need for nation-wide capacity building in digital health.
Vision for the Centre
Ms. Rekha Koita, co-founder of CitiusTech and Distinguished Service Awardee, shared her vision for the KCDH during the inaugural event. She stated that "Our vision is for KCDH to become a globally-renowned Centre in Digital Health informatics. It will drive research and entrepreneurship and hone some of the best minds, creating a cadre of professionals who can truly create an impact in terms of improving healthcare quality, accessibility and affordability."
Implications for digital health in India
The inauguration of the KCDH is expected to have significant implications for digital health in India. The centre will drive academic programs, research, and industry collaborations in the digital health space, which could lead to new innovations and solutions to address the healthcare challenges faced by the country. By creating a cadre of professionals with expertise in digital health informatics, the centre could also help improve healthcare quality, accessibility, and affordability in the long run.
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About Digital Health and Status in India
Digital Health is an emerging field in India that is gaining momentum due to its potential to improve healthcare quality, accessibility, and affordability. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of digital technologies like telemedicine, mHealth, and health information systems to address the healthcare challenges faced by the country. The COVID-19 pandemic has also accelerated the adoption of digital health solutions, highlighting the need for remote consultations and digital health tools. However, the digital health ecosystem in India is still in its nascent stages, and there are several challenges that need to be addressed, including regulatory issues, infrastructure gaps, and the need for capacity building. Nevertheless, with the establishment of the Koita Centre for Digital Health at IIT Bombay and other initiatives, there is hope that digital health will play a significant role in transforming healthcare in India.
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