The Kitchen Convenes Experts to Address Pressing Issue of Data Security in Healthcare

TechnoparkToday (June, 2024): The Kitchen, a prominent platform fostering Kerala’s business ecosystem since 2015, hosted a groundbreaking discussion on data security in the healthcare industry. Held at The Hyatt Regency, Trivandrum, the event brought together leading experts from various fields to address the critical need for robust data protection measures in hospitals and clinics.

Dr. Divya S. Iyer IAS, MD of Vizhinjam Ports International Ltd. and an MBBS doctor herself, inaugurated the event. Dr. Iyer emphasized that patient well-being should be paramount when developing data security systems. She advocated for “more and more dissemination and right access to the data” to enhance healthcare benefits. Drawing on Kerala’s rich legacy of healthcare knowledge, Dr. Iyer highlighted the evolution of traditional data confidentiality practices into modern data privacy systems.

The event was co-organized by TiE Kerala and Kerala Startup Mission. Session partners included Dr. Pattathil Dhanya Menon, India’s first woman cybercrime investigator, and Dr. Gigy George MDS, Chief Dental Surgeon from Dr. Gigy’s Million Dollar Smile Dental Clinic. The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Arun Surendran, Strategic Director & Principal of Trinity College.

The discussion featured valuable contributions from various distinguished speakers. Dr. Simon Morrison, Deputy Director of Health Services Dental for Kerala State, shed light on the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH), its purpose, and its significance in ensuring high standards within the healthcare sector. Cyber Security Specialist Smt. Dhanya Menon Pattathil addressed the dangers of online trading platforms and the importance of public awareness regarding data security. She stressed the responsibility of “data fiduciaries” to ensure data security and accuracy. Shri. Subil BS, Head of Technology from Kerala IT Mission, emphasized the importance of patient data trust and operational integrity within healthcare institutions.

As a panelist and a dentist, Dr. Gigy conveyed the message of how patients were able to trust clinics with their personal data, allowing doctors to comply with patient requirements more efficiently. The recent data malware attacks at RCC Thiruvananthapuram and AIIMS New Delhi underscored the importance of robust data security practices in healthcare. Following the presentations, a Q&A session allowed for further exploration of these critical topics.

The event also witnessed a significant achievement as Dr. Gigy’s Million Dollar Smile Dental Clinic received an Excellence In Dental Care award for achieving the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) certification. Dr. Simon Morrison presented this award, and Smt. Dhanya Menon Pattathil announced the clinic’s ISO 27001 certification in Management of Information Security and ISO 9001:2015 certification, signifying its commitment to data security and quality management. This recognition marks Dr. Gigy’s Million Dollar Smile Dental Clinic as the first dental clinic in India to attain such recognition.

Dr. Divya S. Iyer honored Dr. Gigy George and Capt. Ranjit Jackson for their outstanding contributions to the field of dentistry. This recognition of Dr. Gigy’s Million Dollar Smile Dental Clinic as the first dental clinic in India to achieve ISO 27001 standards in information security marks a positive development, bringing in world-class infrastructure and better clinic facilities. This advancement is expected to foster the need for more affordable dental care services in Kerala, particularly given the state’s focus on dental tourism from the Middle East and other countries. With the new port project at Vizhinjam set to go live soon, health tourism could greatly benefit from this opportunity.

The Kitchen’s organizer, Saju Soman (CMD-Lifeart Group), presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Dr. Gigy George in recognition of the clinic’s rapid rise and its commitment to incorporating the highest clinical standards. Soman highlighted Dr. Gigy’s efforts in a post-pandemic landscape where many healthcare institutions are still hesitant to fully embrace technology and patient data security.

The event concluded with mementos presented to the esteemed panel members and Dr. Gigy’s Million Dollar Smile Dental Clinic team, with a closing address by Dr. Gigy George, expressing gratitude to all participants.