The Ethics in Healthcare Summit 2025, organised by Happiest Health, was inaugurated by Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka, and Ashok Soota, Chairman and Chief Mentor of Happiest Health. The summit convenes experts from medicine, policy, law, and administration to deliberate on ethics as the guiding principle of healthcare delivery in India.
Speaking at the inauguration, Dinesh Gundu Rao stated, “Ethical healthcare means providing the best possible care at the most affordable rates. When hospitals operate purely as profit-driven businesses, families are pushed into poverty simply because someone falls sick. True healthcare responsibility lies in prevention – reaching every doorstep for early detection, regulating food safety, and ensuring quality treatment remains accessible to all. Healthcare must serve humanity, not corporate targets.”
Ashok Soota said, “Ethics in healthcare is the discipline that preserves human dignity and guides us toward what is right. Without it, medicine becomes mechanical and corrupted, where unnecessary procedures flourish and patients suffer harm through negligence. True ethical practice means educating patients, avoiding unnecessary interventions, and prioritising quality over quantity-driven rankings. Ethics gives us the wisdom to heal, reminding us that healthcare is not about providing longevity but about providing a meaningful and happy life. As AI evolves to suggest better pathways, we must ensure technology serves ethical care, not profit-driven medicine, always remembering that every decision should be taken in the interest of the patient.”
Opening the event, Ashok Soota also emphasised the need for systemic reform in India’s wellness and healthcare sectors, highlighting the role of ethical conduct and patient-centricity in building long-term trust. Dinesh Gundu Rao, present as Guest of Honour, highlighted the government’s commitment to strengthening patient rights while ensuring access and affordability.
The summit includes panel discussions and expert sessions featuring representatives from Narayana Health, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University) Journal of Medical Ethics, Medical Ethics Society Forum, NLSIU, Patients for Patient Safety Foundation, the Medical Education Department of Government of Karnataka, and the Private Hospitals & Nursing Homes Association.
These sessions will examine the promises and risks associated with artificial intelligence in healthcare, emphasise transparency, explore medical accountability and self-regulation, and discuss the role of compassion in clinical practice. Leaders from medicine, ethics, and law will connect policy with practice, offering perspectives for India’s healthcare ecosystem.
The closing session will focus on trust among hospitals, doctors, and patients, with an emphasis on responsible engagement and patient safety. The summit aims to bring diverse stakeholders together to reaffirm ethical responsibilities and the role of trust in healthcare delivery across India.