Jaipur. Teams from across the country are coming together to address pressing healthcare challenges at the ‘National Healthcare Hackathon 2.0’, being held at JECRC University under the theme “AI-Powered Clinical Excellence.”
Key issues such as delays in sepsis detection, disruptions caused by ECG wires during surgeries, and the often-overlooked challenges of mental health disorders are being actively tackled through innovative solutions developed during the hackathon.
A total of 250 teams participated in the competition, out of which 75 teams were shortlisted for their innovative ideas. The hackathon follows a unique model where each team comprises two engineering students and one medical student, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration. Students from leading institutions including AIIMS Delhi, RUHS, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Geetanjali Medical College, RD Medical College (Bihar), NIMS, and government medical colleges from Telangana and Mumbai are presenting groundbreaking AI-driven solutions to make healthcare more accurate and accessible.
At the उद्घाटन ceremony, Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. Ashok Seth, Chairman of Fortis Escorts Heart Institute and Fortis Healthcare Medical Council, inspired young innovators by emphasizing the transformative role of AI and advanced technologies in modern medicine. He highlighted that these innovations are key to building a healthcare system that is preventive, predictive, personalized, and precise.
He also urged students to leverage their technical and coding skills to ensure accessible healthcare services for India’s 70% rural population. Dr. Seth stressed that the true value of technological innovation lies in integrating it with the principles of the “6 Cs” — Care, Compassion, Commitment, Communication, Competence, and Consciousness — to create a more humane healthcare ecosystem.
JECRC University Vice Chairperson Amit Agrawal stated that the hackathon is not just a competition but a powerful platform to nurture innovation and research among students. He emphasized that the integration of technology and medicine is essential in today’s world, and such initiatives motivate young minds to develop practical and advanced solutions for real-world healthcare challenges.
He further added that JECRC Medical College Hospital and Research Centre (JMCHRC) is also part of this initiative, aiming to provide better and more accessible healthcare services. With the support of a 720-bedded hospital, students will gain hands-on exposure to real medical challenges, enabling them to move beyond theoretical knowledge and work with modern technologies such as preventive medicine, digital health records, and AI.
Director (People and Culture) Dhruvi Agrawal highlighted that the university’s goal is not only to make students technically proficient but also to foster a culture where technology and empathy come together to drive meaningful social change.
The 36-hour continuous hackathon is witnessing enthusiastic participation from medical and engineering students, who are working tirelessly to develop innovative solutions that could shape the future of healthcare in India.