05 August 2023, Bangalore: A national conclave on the adoption of ethical practices and strengthening governance in the healthcare eco-system was organized by UN Global Compact Network India and Prashanthi Balamandira Trust on ‘Good Governance in Healthcare for Global Welfare – Call to Action. The conclave aimed to discuss practices of good governance and transparency, and urge hospitals, doctors, pharma companies, and other members of the healthcare sector to promote ethical practices.
Through the panel discussion and the multi-stakeholder workshop today, delegates and panellists deliberated about the importance of stakeholders’ engagement in addressing healthcare challenges, the responsibility of multi-stakeholders in promoting transparency, governance, and accountability in healthcare, good practices and innovative approaches, and the role of compliance as an anti-corruption measure in the healthcare sector.
Mr Ratnesh Jha, Executive Director of United National Global Compact Network India spoke to the audience, especially the young citizens who were gathered from various medical institutions, about the importance of getting trained in the skills and pedagogy which are suited for the new world. Stressing on the fact that one must adhere to the diversity and richness of Indian traditions as well as equip oneself to address the major challenges that are collectively faced by all, he said, “UN Global Compact is about trusting each other and forming a community of like-minded global corporate citizens. Together, with corporate members, academic institutions, and civil society organizations we will forge together hand in hand to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ; It’s a win-win partnership with this institution (Prashanthi Balamandira Trust), as it has similar goals. The methods of achieving them are also pure, and we would like this partnership to grow so that we are able to cover more area (geographic) and benefit more people. To do something in an innovative and disruptive way, to break the barriers and boundaries, and reduce the struggle and problems which are faced, is the way of United Nations Global Compact.”
Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, who spearheads Prashanthi Balamandira Trust remarked: “All change begins with the intention to serve, which begins with the human value – empathy. ‘Sympathy’ can merely be lip service, whereas ‘empathy’ demands action. Sri Sathya Sai Baba taught humanity to ‘Love All’ – by empathizing with others, and ‘Serve All’ – by converting empathy into action and serving the needy. Good governance, good people, good education, and good institutions are interdependent on each other. To bring any sort of change in this cycle, the efforts must begin at the institutional level. When good institutions prepare good people with moral fabric and ethical backbone, good governance is looked after. Healthcare is the most crucial part of life needs for good governance. According to me good governance in this field is incomplete till it can deliver healthcare to the neediest in an accessible, affordable, and acceptable way. Though we have global problems, we have local solutions.”
The plenary session moderated by Dr Somnath Singh – Deputy Director, UN Global Compact Network, India included eminent panellists from the healthcare industry and ecosystem such as:
- Dr M Srinivas – Director, AIIMS
- Dr K Madan Gopal – Public Health and Administration, National Health Systems Resources Centre, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
- Ms Aishwarya Sitharam – Associate Director (Corporate) BIOCON
- Mr Venkata Phani Kiran – Associate Vice President, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd
- Dr A Velumani – Founder, Thyrocare
- Dr Vishal Rao – Group Director for Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and Robotic Surgery at HCG Cancer Centre
- Dr Karthik Ramesh – CEO and Founder, Sentinel AI Machine Learning Quantum (SAIMA) Labs
- Dr Swarnalatha – Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fortis La Femme
- Dr R Kishore Kumar – Chairman, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals
- Mr Deep Chandra Papnoi – Deputy Director, UN Global Compact Network India
- Mr. Arya Dev, Assistant Programme Manager, UN Global Compact Network India.
A multi-stakeholder workshop on collective action was also conducted after the conclave. This workshop addressed the importance of stakeholders’ involvement in fighting healthcare challenges and corruption. It also highlighted the responsibility of each stakeholder to promote transparency, governance, and accountability in healthcare.
To curb graft, the UN Global Compact Network India supports organizations committed to responsible business practices. It recognizes the grave impact that unclean businesses have on the company, common people, and all the stakeholders associated with them.
Organizations and societies face complex ethical challenges on a daily basis around the world, and Collective Action is a key approach to slowing the scale of this issue, thereby contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.
Thus, multi-stakeholder partnerships are indispensable in order to effectively tackle and solve the perennial sustainable development problems outlined under good health and well-being in Sustainable Development Goal 3; AND for peace, justice and strong institutions as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 16.
