Former Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu Calls for Robust Public-Private Partnership in Healthcare at CAHOCON 2026
Chennai, April 11, 2026: Former Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday inaugurated the 10th edition of CAHOCON 2026, India’s premier healthcare quality conference organised by the Consortium of Accredited Healthcare Organizations, in Chennai.
The three-day conference, being held from April 10 to 12, brings together leading voices from across the healthcare ecosystem for scientific sessions, panel discussions, innovation showcases and networking engagements. The programme also features poster presentations by researchers and clinicians, fostering knowledge exchange and showcasing innovative healthcare projects.
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Delivering the keynote address, Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director of the Apollo Hospitals Group, highlighted the evolving role of quality and patient-centric care in India’s healthcare landscape. A special address was delivered by Ezequiel Garcia Elorrio, President and Board Member of the International Society for Quality in Health Care.
Among other dignitaries present were Vijay Agarwal, President of CAHO, and Lallu Joseph, Secretary General, who also addressed the gathering. Nalla G Palaniswami welcomed the participants, while S Manivannan presented the theme address. The vote of thanks was delivered by Sathish Devadoss.
In his inaugural address, Naidu underscored the urgent need to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, to ensure equitable access to quality care. He noted that despite improvements in insurance coverage, out-of-pocket expenditure continues to burden a large section of the population. Emphasising the importance of collaboration, he said public-private partnerships could play a transformative role in bridging gaps in affordability and accessibility.
He also called on healthcare practitioners to adopt emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence to enhance diagnostics, expand reach and improve patient outcomes. Stressing the importance of preventive care, he advocated for greater community awareness to tackle the rising burden of lifestyle diseases.
CAHOCON 2026 has drawn around 2,500 participants, including healthcare leaders, clinicians, administrators and policymakers, with over 200 international delegates in attendance. The conference is focusing on key areas such as patient safety, healthcare quality, accreditation and digital transformation.
A large-scale healthcare exhibition is being held alongside the conference, featuring over 200 stalls by medical equipment manufacturers, digital health companies, pharmaceutical firms and service providers, showcasing the latest innovations in the sector.
The event also includes breakout sessions designed for focused discussions and hands-on learning. More than 40 pre-conference workshops were conducted in collaboration with 32 leading hospitals in Chennai, offering practical insights into quality improvement and patient safety.
The inaugural session witnessed the release of the conference souvenir, academic publications and journals, along with the launch of new programmes focusing on healthcare risk management, laparoscopic governance, pharmacy governance, rehabilitation and patient-friendly hospital administration.
Key announcements included the launch of Centres for Quality Promotion and new CAHO forums in areas such as human resources, infection prevention and occupational health. An MoU was also signed between CAHO and the Indian Institute of Management Jammu to promote management practices in healthcare.
Recognised by ISQua as the first regional conference for South Asia, CAHOCON 2026 will feature addresses by 20 ISQua experts. The conference will conclude with the presentation of the CAHO Awards, honouring institutions and professionals for excellence in healthcare quality and patient safety.
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