Kochi, September, 23rd 2024: Dr. Joseph Sunny, Honorary Secretary, All India Occupational Therapists Association (AIOTA) and Director of Prayatna, recently participated as a distinguished panelist at the Policy and Practice Forum: Approaches to Delivering Disability-Inclusive Virtual Healthcare. Hosted by the VirtueCare Network at the Melbourne Global Centre in New Delhi, this event is part of the Asia and Pacific Outlook Series, dedicated to advancing the inclusivity of virtual healthcare in India.

Dr. Joseph Sunny had the privilege of engaging with prominent leaders in the field, including Carly Partridge, Minister Counsellor at the Australian High Commission in India; Professor Nathan Grills, Senior Research Advisor at the Australia-India Institute and Public Health Physician; Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, IAS, Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India; Dr. Muhammad Ashil, National Professional Officer at WHO, New Delhi; and Associate Professor Emma George, Program Director of Occupational Therapy at the University of Adelaide.

“In India, telehealth is becoming essential in maintaining continuity of care for hundreds of thousands. Tele-rehabilitation should also be integrated to support people with disabilities, ensuring the presence of rehabilitation professionals in these services. By maximizing inclusivity in virtual healthcare and leveraging technology, we can enhance rehabilitation and disability services,” said Dr. Joseph Sunny.

The forum showcased the VirtuCare Project, which aims to improve virtual healthcare for people with disabilities by building on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. This project involves collaboration between the University of Melbourne, E-Sanjeevani, The George Institute for Global Health, and other key partners to develop inclusive virtual healthcare solutions. Dr. Joseph Sunny is excited about the potential impact of these discussions on the future of disability-inclusive healthcare.