Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Calls for Tech Partnerships to Tackle Health Challenges

Healthcare challenges require collaborative, technology-led solutions, says Health Secretary

Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Darez Ahamed said the government was willing to work with the private sector to address emerging healthcare challenges and called for solutions to be developed jointly and evaluated over time.

Technology and implementation

Speaking at TN MedClave, 2026, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Dr. Ahamed said Tamil Nadu’s public health system was among the best in the country and had recorded major achievements in maternal and child healthcare.

He said the growing burden of non-communicable diseases required innovative, technology-led solutions, and suggested that partnerships with the private sector and industry could help address these challenges.

The event was held on Saturday on the theme ‘Intelligent Healthcare: From Innovation to Implementation’.

Ahamed identified hypertension, diabetes, cancer and mental health as some of the major emerging challenges in the healthcare sector.

He said cardiac issues were among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the State.

According to him, innovation could help ensure that interventions reached people on time, but innovation would have to work alongside implementation.

He also pointed to the need to trace patients across the health system and ensure continuity of care for people living with chronic diseases.

The State had demonstrated that it could deliver quality care at scale, he said.

Focus on access and accountability

Ahamed said the government was ready to partner with the private sector to tackle the challenges jointly.

He urged the conclave to take up these issues, develop collaborative solutions and, importantly, evaluate progress in the future.

A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to R.V. Ramani, founder and managing trustee of Sankara Eye Foundation.

Ramani highlighted the importance of evaluating progress in healthcare and stressed the need for strong human resources.

He also spoke about making healthcare accessible to all and said ethical values should not be compromised.

Sathish Devadoss, convener of the CII TN Healthcare Panel, said technology should have a positive impact on patients’ everyday experiences.

He also stressed that innovation should be affordable, practical and suited to its setting.

C. Devarajan, chairman, CII, Tamil Nadu, and Praveen Raj P., co-convener, CII TN Healthcare Panel, participated in the event.

Source: The Hindu