Dr Shobha Prakash takes charge as first female president of PHANA Karnataka

President Govindaiah Yathish passed on the responsibilities to Dr Shobha Prakash at PHANA’s National Health Summit 2024 with the theme “Small Hospitals to Smart Hospitals” held in the city on Sunday.

Talking to Medical Dialogues, Dr Prakash stated, “As president of PHANA, I am deeply committed to upholding the highest standards of safety, and innovation in healthcare. I aim to ensure that every person in the state should get quality healthcare. We have more than 5200 private facilities in Bangalore and around Karnataka and now healthcare has reached new heights in terms of telemedicine and the use of artificial intelligence, patients also expect 100% results, so it is our motto to ensure the best possible treatment to the patient at an affordable price.”

Talking about the importance of fire safety measures, the doctor stated, "It is important that private hospitals should follow fire safety norms which is mandatory for their license renewal under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment (KMPE) Act; however, she also pointed out that there are hospitals and facilities which are more than 30 to 40 years old. At that time there were no similar rules for fire compliance."

“Hence, it is not always possible for them to follow the norm 100% however what is important is that so ensure that the hospitals and facilities are providing their best arrangements in terms of fire safety measures. We should look for what can be done within the existing building infrastructure of old buildings,” she added.

She said the new team will approach the government and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and General Insurance Company (GIC) regarding the low reimbursement costs and the need for revision.

She further stated, “When the private hospitals talk about profit eyebrows are raised but profit is the only way to ensure quality healthcare, to main incentive, wages, provident fund, land purchase and so on. Many ask why healthcare needs profit but when we have to invest in the recent advanced machinery and technology, we need capital. We also need skillful and dedicated manpower to handle such machinery and all this comes with a cost and the cost must be absorbed. It is very difficult for us to provide quality healthcare; we need profit and we need to motivate such investments.”

Dr Prakash completed her MBBS from Belgaum Karnataka University Darward. She obtained her MD (OBG) from MSRMC Bangalore. She served as a senior resident at Mallya Hospital, Bangalore. She has been serving as Proprietor & Chief OBG consultant at Neha Prakash Hospital since 2003. She was awarded the Kempegowda Award in 2011 as recognition for her service to the Community. She was honoured by the Vishwa Vani Foundation on International Women’s Day in the years 2017 & 2021. As President of Yelahanka IMA, she was awarded the State President’s Appreciation Award in 2015.