Global Healthcare Summit 2018 concludes with commitment to give back to India

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The 12th edition of the annual Global Healthcare Summit in Mumbai concluded Dec. 30, with physicians of Indian origin rededicating  themselves to work and collaborate towards bringing in high quality, innovative, preventable, cost-effective ways to deliver healthcare to millions of people in India.

The three-day event, inaugurated by the the President of India Ram Nath Kovind, on Dec. 28, at the Taj Palace Hotel in Mumbai, was for the first time, jointly organized by American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) and the Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), from December  28-30, at Hotel Trident, Nariman Point, Mumbai. Some 500 delegates from around the world attended, according to a press release from AAPI.

Kovind in his speech, called AAPI a “link between two vibrant and democratic societies, both of which have addressed major public health challenges in their own way.” He praised the more than 100,000 physicians of Indian origin in the U.S. for their contributions, noting that their work “In fact, it has occasionally led to diplomatic gains for India for which your Association must be appreciated.” He urged AAPI to especially work to bring “traditional Indian wellness practices to modern medical systems.”

Dr. Naresh Parikh, president AAPI in his opening remarks, provided an overview of some of the major contributions of the past 11 Summits organized by AAPI, noting that the organization had, over the last 12 years, collaborated with several professional medical associations, academic institutions, Government of India, and contributed towards addressing diabetes with the launch of Sevak program, CPR-AED training for first responders with expert faculty from the American University of Antigua, traumatic brain injury, which he called the “scourge of young India”, developing management guidelines to prevent deaths from road traffic accidents, raising the importance and awareness on smoking cessation, Adopt a Village program, and most recently a strong collaborative on making India TB Free with the signing of a MOU with USAID, under which 10 city pilots are well under way.

The Summit included strategic meetings including a CEO Forum, Women’s Forum, Launching Free Health Clinic, First Responders Training, CMEs, Research Contest, Fashion Show, Cultural extravaganza, and pre and post visits to Kerala and Goa.

Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, chairman for GHS 2018, praised AAPI for its achievements of the last 37 years. He and his wife Dr. Udita Jahagirdar contributed funds towards the Burns Unit Seth G.S. Medical College and Hospital in Mumbai and the Unit was dedicated during GHS 2018.

A Young Investigator Research Competition was part of the GHS 2018 at G.S. Medical College and Hospital in Mumbai where several dozen medical students from across India participated and winners were recognized at the Dec. 28 gala.

“The focus of the 12^th Global Health Summit was an India-centric approach,” according Anwar Feroz, AAPI’s Strategic Advisor.

The many themes chosen for CMEs included, Healthcare, Career and Commerce, with the focus on Women’s Healthcare, including high priority areas such as Cardiology, Maternal & Child Health, Diabetes, Oncology, Surgery, Mental Health, HIT, Allergy, Immunology & Lung Health, Gastroenterology, Transplant and impact of comorbidities.

Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, founder GAPIO, has a vision for uniting all Indian physicians living abroad, to develop strong and effective programs that can be implemented with precision to face the challenges posed by Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

Dr. Ramesh Mehta, president GAPIO in his opening address said that AAPI GHS 2018 is the beginning of a strong collaborative approach along with the Global Association of Physicians of Indian origin (GAPIO) that together will make constructive and tangible ways of ensuring that healthcare is affordable and accessible to millions of people in India.

The CEO Forum, was addressed by leaders from Indian Pharmaceutical Companies, including Dr. Preetha Rajaraman, the health attaché, US Government; Dr. Shailesh Ayyangar, MD of Sanofi; Sudarshan Jain. former MD, Abbott; Madan Rohini Krishnan, MD Medtronic India; Dr. William Pinsky. president ECFMG; Neal Simon, president American University of Antigua; D.G. Shah, secretary of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance; Dr. Gurpreet Sandhu, president CHPF; Dr. Naresh Parikh, president of AAPI; Dr. Vinod Shah, AAPI past president; Dr. Raj Bhayani, co chair, GHS; and, Dr Ravi Jahagirdar, chairman GHS.

The Forum discussed ways to ensure that lower cost and effective medicines with the highest quality continue to make India the world leader in this field. The CEO Forum focused on identifying ways to successfully implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s healthy India initiative, Ayushman Bharat, a brainchild of the Honorable Prime Minister of India,

The Women’s Forum included Amruta Fadnavis, first lady of Maharashtra and Vice President of Axis Bank; Deana Uppal, entrepreneur and Winner Miss India U; Dr. Nandita Palshetkar, president FOGSI; Dr. Ratna Jain, former Mayor of Kota, Rajasthan; and, Sangita Reddy, executive director  Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospital Group as panelists. Dr. Asha Parikh, Chair, AAPI Women’s Forum and Dr. Udaya Shivangi, Vice Chair, AAnd PI Women’s Forum led the panelists to a lively discussion on ways to prevent and address violence against women.

Building on its collaborative efforts with several non-governmental organizations and the US-AID, AAPI committed itself to strengthen its initiatives to “make every city, ever district, every village in India TB free.” The planning/review session at the GHS was an Introduction and Review of Building on A Roadmap for a TB-Free India – A Combined effort of AAPI and CETI under guidance of Government of India, US-AID, where the progress in the 10 cities, where the program has been on for several months, was reviewed through a live webcast from each of these 10 cities.

Dr. Naresh Parikh praised the dedication, contributions and efforts of Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, Dr. Vinod Shah, chair of AAPI Legislative Committee, Dr. Sampat Shivangi, co-chair of GHS 2018, Dr. Raj Bhayani, co-chair of GHS 2018, Feroz, AAPI’s Strategic Advisor,  Dr. Asha Parikh, Women’s Forum chair, and his entire executive committee consisting of  Dr. Suresh Reddy, president-elect; Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, vice president;  Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, secretary; Dr. Anjana Samadder, treasurer; and Dr. Ajeeth Kothari, chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Dr. Suresh Reddy invited all delegates to the 13^th edition of Global Healthcare Summit planned for July 19-21, in Hyderabad, India. Organized by AAPI in collaboration with BAPIO & GAPIO, as well as host alumni chapters, the GHS 2019 will focus on preventive health, targeting women’s health, and providing special CPR training.  Dr. Reddy will assume charge as the president of AAPI in July next year at the convention in Atlanta, the press release said.