The Indian Head Injury Foundation organized “Symposium on Assistive Technology (AT) in Neuro Rehabilitation” on 21st March, 2017, with speakers from WHO, University of Sheffield, IIT Delhi and Government of India Ministries of Science and Technology and Social Justice and Empowerment as well as clinicians in the field of Neurosciences, ENT and Orthopaedics. The objective was to form a key working group which will work closely with the Government of India, IIT, WHO and doctors, to improve access for poor patients, living in remote areas, to Assistive Technology for neuro rehabilitation.
Assistive Technology (AT) may be a piece of equipment, software program or product system that is used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of person with neurological disabilities and even the very elderly. Use of this technology will help improve mobility, speech, learning, communication, vision, hearing and functions of daily living in these patients.
Speakers included: Prof. Luc De Witte from Sheffield university, UK, Dr Patanjali Nayyar, Regional Adviser, Disability, Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation, WHO, Dr.Neeraj Sharma, Scientist and Head Technology Group, Ministry of Science and Technology
Dr Mathew Verghese, Head, Department of Orthopaedics, St. Stephens Hospital, New Delhi, Dr Amit Kishore Senior Consultant ENT Surgeon, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Prof.P.V. Madhusudhan Rao, IIT, Delhi, Dr Charu Guaba, Consultant Neurologist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Dr Tarun Lala, Head of Neurorehab at Indraprastha Apollo hospital and Rehab Advisor to IHIF
Prof. Luc spoke about the global research happening across the world in AT and how we can bring it to the common man , showed the stats across the region .
Dr Patanjali talked about Role of WHO in AT and how they can help at society at large, with formation GATE community it has brought professionals from different specialty together .
The Symposium was inaugurated by Mr. B.N. Singh, MP, Rajya Sabha who himself underwent Neurorehab at certain point of time and promised to promote it at every level in the ministry and find out a way ahead so that this technology can reach the end users.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad, senior consultant neurosurgeon & spine surgeon, Apollo Hospitals and Hon. Medical director, Indian Head Injury Foundation has coordinated this meeting which has for the first time brought together clinicians, engineers and officials from the relevant Government Ministries and WHO.
