Press release from Business Wire India
Source: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
Saturday, August 22, 2009 10:50 AM IST (05:20 AM GMT)
Editors: General: Environment, People, Social issues; Business: Energy companies, Media & entertainment; Healthcare
--------------------------------------------------
TERI Propagates Urban and Healthcare Sustainability Key to India's Development on Foundation Day
Dr Naresh Trehan Stresses on Innovation and Commitment to Improve the Current Indian Healthcare System
New Delhi, Delhi, India, Saturday, August 22, 2009 -- (Business Wire India) -- India has witnessed an increase in lifestyle diseases coupled with the new diseases that have emerged due to climate change. However, the Indian healthcare system needs to be efficient and proactive in meeting the demands of the people especially those living in the remote corners of the country. Thus, realising the importance of the issue, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) celebrated its Foundation Day by remembering its founder Late Sh Darbari Seth, and inviting Dr. Naresh Trehan, Chairman & Managing Director, Medanta- the Medicity. Dr. Trehan delivered the 8th annual lecture and was felicitated for his significant contribution to the field of medicine. The ceremony was presided over by The Hon'ble Lt. Governor of Delhi-NCT, Sh. Tejender Khanna in the presence of Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Director-General, TERI and Dr. Leena Srivastava, Executive Director TERI along with other dignitaries, Senior Bureaucrats, Embassy/High Commission Officials, Entrepreneurs, NGO's, Academicians, Scientists and Researchers.
Dr. R.K. Pachauri opened the lecture by highlighting the vision of Mr. Seth and the path breaking achievements of TERI. He said, "There is no greater example of an inappropriate relationship than the health challenges that the planet would face as a result of human induced climate change. The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report clearly brings these out and highlights their seriousness. It is projected that the health status of millions will be affected through increases in malnutrition, increased risk of deaths, diseases and injuries due to extreme weather events. There would also be increased burden of diarrhoeal disease, increased cardio-respiratory and infectious diseases due to higher concentration of ground level ozone in urban areas related to climate change and the altered spatial distribution of some infectious diseases. Climate change will also result in higher frequencies and intensities of floods, droughts, heatwaves and extreme precipitation events. All of these also have serious health implications."
Dr. Naresh Trehan, in his address, focused on the current scenario of the Indian Healthcare Systems. He presented a SWOT analysis of the system and stressed on the fact that innovation and commitment can improve the current system dramatically. He stressed the need to find long term solutions to public health challenges. "More then 30 years ago, India had made a commitment to ensure health for all by 2010 in the Declaration of Alma-Ata," he said referring to the charter adopted at the International Conference on Primary Health Care in Almaty formerly Alma-Ata), presently in Kazakhstan. "Sadly this has yet to happen, and despite some positive indicators like increased life expectancy and falling infant mortality, the state of in healthcare in India leaves much to be desired." Although 5.2% of the GDP is earmarked for health, the Government spends barely 1%- 1.1% of this while the 80% of the population spend from its own pocket. India ranks 171 out of 175 in public health spending in the world (WHO studies 2008). "Not that we are in crisis alone," he added. The US government cannot cover 50 million people under healthcare despite its annual spending crossing 15% and in the UK, millions are languishing without health care.
Talking about challenges in the system, he pointed out four major challenges: a) affordability of healthcare; b) rural healthcare delivery; c) public private partnerships, and d) telemedicine. Traditional medicine systems with its proper standardisation can be integrated with western medicine which would make healthcare less expensive and involve less invasive procedures. He also mentioned various government initiatives like NRHM and national disease control programmes etc that are bridging the gaps in the system.
Sh Tejender Khanna, presiding over the ceremony, said, "People like Dr. Trehan and Dr Pachauri need to be emulated. We are extremely fortunate that the NCT has enormous intellectual resource that can be used by creating committees for improving the state of Delhi. I have been personally looking after this and feel that civil society plays a significant role in the development of any nation. India can only realise its full potential if every citizen is committed and demonstrates the highest level of professionalism. I have had the privilege of interacting with Mr. Seth, a man of high integrity and great stature."
As two icons representing urban and healthcare sustainability respectively, Khanna and Trehan highlighted the inclusiveness that is so essential for India's development.
In the past, great entrepreneurs and scientific dignitaries like Dr. Abdul Kalam, Mr. Mukesh Ambani, N R Narayanamurthy, K Kasturirangan and Ms. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw have shared their vision at the annual Darbari Seth Memorial Lectures.
About Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) initiated the Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture series in the year 2002, in the memory and name of the institute's founder Mr. Darbari Seth. Mr. Seth was the visionary whose generosity and initiative was responsible for the establishment of TERI. Mr. Seth, a technocrat-industrialist, supported the establishment of TERI in the early 70's. Under his guidance, the institute witnessed a meteoric rise - and today has emerged as a unique developing country institution that has spread to various parts of the globe. The achievements of the institute he founded would have made Mr. Seth proud: From a modest Rs 3.5 crore corpus, it has grown more than a hundred fold. Even more importantly, TERI is recognized in India and internationally as the think tank on all issues related to sustainable development.
CONTACT DETAILS
Rajiv Chhibber, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), +91 9810426698, rajivc@teri.res.in
Ms. Tushita Mukherjee, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), +91 9871204990, tushitam@teri.res.in
KEYWORDS
ENVIRONMENT, PEOPLE, SOCIAL, ENERGY, MEDIA, HEALTHCARE
If you wish to change your Business Wire India selection please click on this link http://www.businesswireindia.com/media/news.asp and use your personal username and password to login.
Submit your press release at http://www.businesswireindia.com
No comments:
Post a Comment