Kerala min Veena George underlines necessity of digital tools to integrate into health ecosystem

Kerala Health, Women, and Child Development Minister Veena George on Thursday highlighted the imperative for digital tools to integrate seamlessly into the health ecosystem, facilitating real-time monitoring, enhanced human resource management, strong data frameworks, and transparent financial tracking for more accessible and affordable care.

Inaugurating a two-day National Workshop on “IT Solutions in the Ayush Sector” at the picturesque KTDC Waterscape at the international tourist hub Kumarakom in Kerala’s Kottayam, Veena George emphasised the symbolic choice of Kumarakom’s natural setting, reflecting the harmony that Ayush promotes.

Advertisement

She underlined the necessity of upholding traditional values while embracing rapid technological advancements. Articulating Kerala’s commitment to balancing ancient wisdom with modern technology, she pointed out Kerala’s pioneering role in digital health innovation that sets a benchmark for others.

Dwelling on the need for uniformity and scalability across Ayush digital services nationwide, rooted in citizen-centric governance, the Kerala Health Minister expressed confidence that the workshop’s deliberations would enhance real-time monitoring and data integration.

The two-day National Workshop is jointly organised by the Kerala Ayush Department and the National AYUSH Mission. Delegates from 28 states and eight Union Territories are attending the workshop.

Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, in his keynote address, emphasised that the adoption of digital tools and platforms is no longer optional but essential to improve accessibility, affordability, and quality of service delivery. Elaborating on his Ministry’s ongoing initiatives, such as the Ayush Grid and new digital portals, he said these are designed to foster collaboration among states and Union Territories, standardise software to avoid duplication, and ensure equitable access to modernized Ayush services across the country.

Rajan N Khobragade, Additional Chief Secretary (Health & Ayush), Government of Kerala; Dr Raghu, Advisor, Ministry of Ayush; and Dr D Sajith Babu, State Mission Director, National Ayush Mission, Kerala, were among those who spoke on the occasion.

The event will have technical presentations and live demonstrations on related topics on September 18 and 19. The workshop will be followed by a field visit by the delegates on September 20 and 21 to AYUSH facilities in Kerala, allowing them to learn about the diverse models of service delivery in the state.