The Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, GAPIO, plans to hold its 6th annual conference in Bengaluru, Jan. 9 and 10, where more than 300 delegates are expected including representatives from the United States, Australia, Canada, Middle Eastern and African countries as well as from the United Arab Emirates and India.
Some 50 experts in varied fields are scheduled to address sessions on cardiology, diabetes, mellitus-Endo and bariatric surgery, neurosciences, including cardiology, diabetes, gastro-intestinal medicine, organ transplant and oncology, child health and nutrition. Panel discussions include Voices from Overseas, Patient Safety & Ethics; GAPIO Initiatives on Community Health; as well as Healthcare Outside the Hospital System.
GAPIO has expanded considerably since its founding 6 years ago. “We have linked with Indian doctors in 31 countries, and growing,” Dr. Sanku Rao of Enid, Oklahoma, president of the organization said. “This is a platform for Indian doctors around the world to help the common cause of improving healthcare worldwide but especially in India’s rural and semi-urban areas,” Rao added. “We are also encouraging young physicians from the U.S. to go to India,” Rao said.
Dr. Anil K. Tandon of Apollo Hospitals in India said GAPIO’s goals were to achieve the highest professional standards, provide affordable good quality healthcare, contribute to local and regional community development thereby helping reduce health inequalities and alleviate suffering globally. “GAPIO is constantly and actively embarking upon various community service projects,” Tandon said.
“The main agenda of the conference is to have networking among physicians and exchange ideas on how to increase philanthropy toward India and improve ongoing GAPIO projects as well as take on new projects,” said GAPIO Treasurer Dr. Sudhir Parikh, recipient of India’s Padma Shri award.
“Particularly, we want to be in sync with the Indian Medical Association and local and state medical bodies and the state governments in India,” Parikh added. More than 25 Indian states are represented in GAPIO. “We also want to initiate exchange programs between different specialties in both countries and give (Indian physicians) exposure to state-of-the-art technologies,” he added. He noted India’s Swachha Bharat Abhiyan initiative that GAPIO is part of and which connects doctors abroad to needy areas and specialties in India.
Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, founder and chairman of the Apollo Hospitals in India, is the founder and president of GAPIO as well as advisor emeritus to the organization.
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