The 47th Foundation Day of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) was celebrated on October 28, 2020, with speeches, awards and more. For the first time ever, the event was held on the virtual mode from start to finish, due to the pandemic crisis.

“There is no reason why we, in India, cannot chart a new path for the emerging world of healthcare. Despite the challenges and complexity, we must use our learning and synthesis to reimagine India’s healthcare system to lay out a path, that works with state and non-state actors, to provide a resilient healthcare system for comprehensive, accountable, accessible, inclusive and affordable quality healthcare to every Indian,” said Chief Guest Dr Gagandeep Kang, FRS, Professor of Microbiology, Division of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, while delivering the Foundation Day Lecture on ‘Reimagining the Indian Healthcare System.’

Apart from the lecture by the Chief Guest, there were addresses by Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIMB, and Professor Rishikesha T Krishnan, Director, IIMB, mostly about resetting ourselves in view of the current situation – in business and in health.

Talking about the growing popularity of telemedicine Dr Prasad said: “What would have taken five years before, took just five weeks post-Covid. Telemedicine was illegal before Covid came, now it has been legalised.”

He advised the students to always keep themselves motivated, especially at such crucial times. “The pandemic could make us disillusioned. But remember, if there is one country that will emerge as the winner in this crisis - it is India. That is because we have learnt to manage ourselves among adversities, we Indians are very adaptable. So, start working to build a new India which we all would be proud of”.

Professor Krishnan described the efforts of the IIMB community in dealing with the effects of the pandemic, and had a special word of appreciation for NSRCEL – IIMB’s start-up hub – which has been collaborating with IISc and other top institutes to work with start-ups that are finding innovative solutions to COVID-19 challenges. He had a special word of thanks for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in supporting IIMB, significantly.