CII Healthcare Summit 2025 in Bhubaneswar Highlights Odisha’s Drive Toward a Healthier and Innovative Future

Bhubaneswar: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) successfully organised the first edition of the CII Healthcare Summit 2025 in Bhubaneswar, bringing together healthcare leaders, policymakers, innovators, and industry experts under the theme “Integrating Innovation, Wellness and Care for a Healthier Tomorrow.” The summit underscored Odisha’s growing role as a regional hub for healthcare excellence and innovation.

Inaugurating the summit, Odisha’s Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, outlined the state’s ongoing efforts to strengthen medical infrastructure and education. He announced the establishment of eight new government medical colleges, four government dental colleges, and one Ayurvedic college across Odisha. The Minister further informed that over 4,000 doctors and paramedical staff had been recruited in the past year, with plans underway to hire more than 5,000 additional personnel in the coming months. Emphasising the government’s employment goals, he said the state aims to fill 1.5 lakh vacant government positions within the next five years.

Dr. Mahaling called for collective action and partnerships to improve healthcare access and quality. He reiterated that the government is committed to supporting the healthcare sector through both infrastructure development and skilled human resources. The event also featured remarks by Sunil Gupta, Chairman of CII Odisha State Council and Chief Operating Officer of Vedanta Limited, Jharsuguda, who praised Odisha’s healthcare initiatives and highlighted the importance of public-private collaboration in accelerating sectoral growth.

Dr. Alok Srivastava, Convenor of the CII Odisha Healthcare Panel and Chief Operating Officer of Apollo Hospitals in Bhubaneswar, spoke about Odisha’s potential in medical device manufacturing, affordable care, and medical tourism. He noted that local innovations and entrepreneurship would be key to transforming the healthcare sector in the state. G. Suresha, Vice Chairman of the CII Odisha State Council and Executive Director of AM/NS India, thanked the participants for their contributions toward shaping the future of healthcare in Odisha.

The summit featured four thematic sessions addressing critical areas such as wellness among industrial workers, the role of emerging technologies like AI and IoT in healthcare startups, financial inclusion through health insurance, and strategies to harness Odisha’s cultural and natural assets to promote medical tourism. An exhibition and a series of B2B and B2G meetings were also held on the sidelines, providing a platform for investments, partnerships, and knowledge exchange.

Throughout the day, discussions focused on key growth areas including hospital infrastructure, digital health, medical equipment manufacturing, health financing, wellness initiatives, and employment generation in healthcare. The summit served as a dynamic platform to foster innovation, collaboration, and investment, reinforcing Odisha’s commitment to building a modern, inclusive, and resilient healthcare system.