Utilize the potential of elders which they have gathered during their productive life span as part of Geriatic Care said Dr. K Madan Gopal

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”

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.

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. There’s an utmost need for creating awareness about the availability of digital Healthcare facilities available for the elderly in the rural areas and we can educate them about it. 

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. Dr. Gopal also urged everyone to come forward and work together to make a better digital care for the elderly people in India. He further added to look for the opportunity to utilize the potential of elders which they have gathered during their productive life span.

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. He further added that older people are being challenged by requirements to spend more time at home, lack of physical contact with other family members, friends and colleagues, temporary cessation of employment and other activities; and anxiety and fear of illness and death – their own and others. It is therefore important that we create opportunities to foster healthy ageing during the pandemic. Dr. Sameer also said that Digital Equity is a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy and economy − including older persons – to ensure new opportunities and benefits are available to everyone.

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. while mentioning about the way forward, Mr Rohit said that there is an urgent need to enhance the digital literacy / skills of elderly to have transformational impact on their lives. There is also a need to develop elder specific and elder sensitive solutions which can be called as age friendly digital solutions and finally the focus should be on research and data for elderly with age disaggregated data and analysis for better insights & evidence into problems to solve. 

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. He further said that User-centred Participatory Research, which involves the target population (Elderly)is the need of the day for developing digital accessibility for elders.  He concluded with the sayings that help elderly in finding a purpose, Assist them to live out that purpose to find a meaning and Promote more & more participation (User-centred Participatory Research).

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 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.