CareCon 2026 Stakeholders call for shifting focus from institution-led models to patient-driven care

New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) Clinicians, policymakers, hospital leaders, innovators and patient advocates participated in a first-of-its-kind national initiative, CareCon 2026, aimed at pushing for a more patient-centric healthcare system in India.
    Organised by Pacific OneHealth, an emerging chain of micro hospitals, the day-long conference held here sought to address concerns that while India has made strides in advanced medical treatment, the human aspects of care -”- dignity, empathy and patient voice -- often remain overlooked.
    The event held on Tuesday brought together diverse stakeholders to deliberate on reorienting healthcare delivery to place patients at the centre, shifting focus from institution-led models to patient-driven care.
    Speaking at the conference, Pacific OneHealth founder and executive director Saket Bansal said India does not lack medical expertise or innovation but needs stronger systemic recognition of patient experience in care delivery.
    "CareCon 2026 is not a celebration of the status quo. It is a call to action. We need to redesign healthcare delivery from the patient inward, not the institution outward," he said.
    Co-founder and president of Pacific OneHealth, Dr Swadeep Srivastava, who is also the organising chairperson of the conference, said healthcare transformation requires alignment across stakeholders, including clinicians, diagnostics, insurers, policymakers and communities.
    "Our goal is to shift the narrative from episodic, reactive treatment to proactive, personalised and compassionate care," he said.
    A key highlight of the event was the "Care As It Should Be Excellence Awards 2026", recognising clinicians, nurses, administrators and institutions for prioritising compassion and patient dignity.
    The conference also featured a segment honouring excellence in health journalism, acknowledging media professionals who have contributed to responsible and in-depth reporting in the healthcare sector amid concerns of misinformation and sensationalism.
    The OneHealth Medical Bulletin was also being launched on the sidelines of the event to bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and public awareness.
    Sessions during the conference focused on preventive health and early intervention, precision ageing and women's health, artificial intelligence in clinical pathways, micro-hospital models and the future of distributed care.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)