A Movement Beyond a Conference
The conference showcased groundbreaking initiatives, from AI-driven diagnostics to sustainable practices, while sparking debates on accreditation and patient safety.
By Dr Vijay Agarwal
A s the curtains fell on CAHOCON 2025, organised by the Consortium of Accredited Healthcare Organizations (CAHO) in New Delhi, the message was clear: collaboration is not an option but a necessity in modern healthcare. The conference, continuing its legacy of strong industry participation, drew a distinguished gathering of professionals from across the healthcare continuum—clinicians, administrators, policy architects, researchers, technologists, and innovators—all aligned with a singular vision: safer, smarter, and sustainable care.
Setting the Stage: Groundwork for Excellence
CAHOCON 2025, held on April 12–13, was preceded by 25 focused workshops that engaged 1,917 participants in hands-on sessions. These covered topics ranging from ISO 7101 implementation, NABH migration, and JCI 8th edition updates to strategic themes like biomedical engineering in ICUs, HA-VTE prevention, and sustainability in healthcare.
Notable highlights included:
• A session on clinical nutrition and food safety at Amrita Hospital, with 232 attendees.
• CAHO’s Global Rehab Forum session, which drew 424 professionals and focused on inclusive rehabilitation.
• Workshops dedicated to nursing leadership, pharmacy safety, and digital transitions in standards compliance.
These sessions laid a strong foundation for the two-day main conference, blending technical rigor with systemic insights.
CAHOCON 2025 unveiled a series of pioneering initiatives, reinforcing India’s growing role in global healthcare innovation. The launch of the International Journal for Healthcare Quality, Patient-Centredness & Safety (IJHQPCS) marked a milestone for research, while the 5C Network’s Diagnostic AI promised to revolutionise clinical decision-making.
High-Profile Engagements and Launches
The inaugural day was marked by a ceremonial welcome and powerful addresses from dignitaries such as Delhi Chief Minister Ms Rekha Gupta, and ISQua President Dr Ezequiel Garcia Elorrio. Both emphasised the role of governance, standards, and technology in catalysing quality transformation.
Key initiatives launched included:
• International Journal for Healthcare Quality, Patient-Centredness & Safety (IJHQPCS)
• 5C Network – Diagnostic AI
• Essentials of Safe Anaesthesia – a collaboration with the International Society of Anaesthesia
• CQP Centre Inductions at Sehgal Neo Hospital, CK Birla Hospital, and SRM Medical College
• White Paper by P4PSF on Patient Engagement Strategies
Thematic Sessions: Insights and Innovations
Each thematic session offered strategic direction:
• Global Collaboration in Quality saw experts like Dr Jeffrey Braithwaite and Dr Peter Lachman advocate systems thinking and capacity building through adverse event learning.
• Design Thinking reshaped conversations around maternal care, obstetrics, and public health infrastructure.
• “Viksit Bharat – Made in India” promoted homegrown solutions such as robotic surgery systems and AI-driven diagnostics.
• The Grand Debate posed a critical question: Is accreditation still a five-day exercise, or has it matured into a culture of continual improvement?
• Sustainability in Healthcare took centre stage with contributions from Canada, Germany, and the UAE, exploring green logistics, high-reliability systems, and resilient infrastructure.
• Medical Value Travel sessions assessed India’s position on the global healthcare map and the regulatory roadmap to grow this sector responsibly.
Research, Youth, and Systemic Reform
One of the conference’s most impactful sessions focused on collaborative research. Cross-institutional models, such as the VET in Cancer Care initiative, demonstrated the tangible impact of partnerships on patient outcomes.
The Student Engagement Committee (SEC) was expanded into four domains: Medical, Nursing, Allied Health, and Hospital Administration, with a new leadership structure. This reflects CAHO’s long-term investment in capacity building and future leadership.
Building Bridges Across Professions
The final day emphasised multisectoral collaboration. CAHO forums brought together voices from nursing, pharmacy, engineering, dietetics, sustainability, and rehabilitation, all reinforcing the message: patient safety is everyone’s responsibility.
New platforms, such as:
• Health-Tech Excellence Forum
• SHCO Forum for Small and Medium Hospitals
• Laundry Excellence Programme
• Sustainable Event Certification Framework
…illustrate how CAHO is embedding quality and safety at operational and systemic levels.
Key Takeaways
CAHOCON 2025 was not just a conference—it was a statement of purpose, culminating in awards, cultural programmes, and memorable keynote dialogues, including an inspiring Coffee Pe Charcha session with Dr Kiran Bedi and Dr Narottam Puri on ethical leadership and public accountability.
As CAHO expands its footprint through new forums, MoUs with academic institutions, and the upcoming CAHOCON 2026, the organisation continues to work tirelessly for quality improvement in Indian healthcare.
(The author is President, CAHO)