The convergence of artificial intelligence, medicine, and engineering is ushering in a new era of healthcare. The Hindu Sustainability Dialogues, to be held on October 13, brings together experts to explore how technology can drive smarter, more sustainable healthcare while keeping it ethical, inclusive, and human-centred. The event will be hosted by The Hindu Group, in association with the Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS).
Centred on the theme, ‘The Future of Medicine: Harnessing AI for Better Healthcare,’ the initiative will bring together leading voices from healthcare, academia, technology, and industry to examine emerging challenges and opportunities that could shape a sustainable, equitable, and future-ready healthcare ecosystem.
The inaugural session will feature K.G. Arunraj, Tamil Nadu Minister for Health, Medical Education, and Family Welfare, as the chief guest, who will deliver the keynote address. N.M. Veeraiyan, chancellor of SIMATS, Chennai, will deliver the special address.
AI-driven healthcare
A key highlight of the event will be a special fireside chat titled, ‘Future Healthcare Systems: Convergence of Artificial Intelligence and Medicine.’ The session will feature Dr. Arunraj in conversation with Ramya Kannan, Health Editor and Chief of Bureau (Tamil Nadu), The Hindu, exploring how AI and medical innovation could reshape healthcare delivery, clinical decision-making, and patient outcomes.
The first panel discussion, ‘AI-Driven Healthcare: Innovation, Ethics, Accessibility and Sustainability’, will feature Richa Pant, Director – Research, DeepTek; Sindhuja Giritharan, Clinical Lead – Digital Health and Patient Engagement, Sundaram Medical Foundation; Hariharan, Associate Professor, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Saveetha Medical College, SIMATS; and Reuben Fernandes, Founder and CEO, Skyfire Applied Intelligence Pvt. Ltd. (Atom360). The discussion will be moderated by Zubeda Hamid, Senior Assistant Editor, The Hindu.
Sustaining a human touch
The second panel discussion, ‘Human Touch in the Age of AI: Preserving Compassion, Trust and Ethics in Modern Medicine,’ will focus on the importance of keeping human values at the heart of an increasingly technology-driven healthcare ecosystem. The session will feature Abdul Ghafur, Senior Consultant and Adjunct Professor in Infectious Diseases, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai; K. Ganapathy, Honorary Distinguished Professor, IIM Jammu, Distinguished Professor, The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, and Emeritus Professor, National Academy of Medical Sciences; and Iniyan S., Professor and Clinical Head, Department of Psychiatry, Saveetha Medical College, SIMATS. The session will be moderated by Geetha Srimathi S., Senior Reporter, The Hindu.
Through expert conversations and cross-sector perspectives, Sustainability Dialogues 2026 will explore how artificial intelligence can be harnessed to strengthen healthcare systems while addressing critical questions around ethics, accessibility, sustainability and trust and preserving the irreplaceable role of human compassion in medicine.
The event will be live-streamed at https://newsth.live/THSASDY
Published – October 08, 2026 10:46 pm IST
