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The 9th annual Global Healthcare Summit 2015 organized by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin concluded here Jan. 4. More than 500 delegates from the U.S., India and other countries, attended. The Summit took on added importance with the visit of the U.S. President to India Jan. 25-27, where quality healthcare delivery was one of the important subjects discussed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Obama. During his visit, President Obama also announced the Indian Diaspora Investment Initiative, a public-private collaboration that would allow Indian-Americans to directly invest in Indian businesses and projects including those providing health care to rural communities or improving water and sanitation.
The highlight of the Jan. 4 AAPI Global Health Summit was a pledge by Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan to be AAPI’s Ambassador on campaigns to create awareness on head injury, trauma, and hepatitis in India.
Political leaders addressed the international delegates and pledged their support to programs initiated with diaspora groups. The conference was marked by continuing medical education seminars which went into the third and final day of the conference.
Dr. Sudhir Parikh, publisher of News India Times and recipient of the Padma Shri award, lauded the trauma centers initiative which is meant to help physicians in India with expertise and technical help. “We started this project during Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s time because of the high incidence of death by accidents,” he told News India Times. He praised Bachchan for his support saying it would open more doors in India for AAPI projects. “And President Obama encouraging Indian-Americans to invest in their home country is a plus for AAPI. We should individually and collectively encourage investment in India and encourage hospitals and institutions in America to get engaged with India.” Parikh said.
At the GHS Summit, there was a concurrent forum devoted to Healthcare and Hospital CEOs where more than 50 leaders in the health industry held a brain storming session. Research and poster presentations and a seminar on U.S. exams for foreign medical graduates as well as visa issues was held at KEM Hospital in Parel.
Maharashtra Governor Vidyasagar Rao inaugurated the Summit with the lighting of the
traditional lamp at the Trident Hotel Jan. 2. He applauded the achievements and contributions of Indian American physicians in the United States and for their love for India. Describing physicians of Indian origin as “most required Indians,” the Governor urged AAPI to identify ways to make healthcare reach the remotest villages in the state of Maharashtra, and to explore ways to make healthcare women-centered, which is pivotal to the health of the nation and will help in reducing maternal mortality. He pledged full cooperation.
Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, president of AAPI, welcoming delegates, said the GHS held annually in India across the states in partnership with the Indian Medical Association, and Medical Council of India, with the cooperation from the Ministry of Health and Overseas Indian Affairs, had come to be recognized for the many initiatives it has undertaken and joint recommendations it had made for standard of care in treatment of major diseases.
India’s Minister for Health Jagat Prakash Nadda called the delegates “leading luminaries” who excel in their fields and make a positive impact on healthecare. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis promised whole-hearted support to the initiatives of AAPI in his state. He identified the healthcare needs of the country and suggested four areas where AAPI could collaborate with the government of India: 1. In establishing Memorandum of Understanding with international organizations, which will support healthcare in India; 2. Transferring advanced research and experiences in the medical field and enhance the quality of medical education in India; 3. Organizing healthcare/medical camps in rural and economically backward regions of the nation; and 4. Addressing hygienic and preventive measures and enhancing the healthcare delivery in India.
Bachchan stole the limelight.“I pledge my support for these campaigns and commit myself towards the achievement of AAPI’s worthy goals. I am here with you for these campaigns and in any other campaign you might undertake and if my face and voice can be instrumental in propagating these efforts, I would gladly lend the same” Bachchan declared at the convention.
He went on to praise Indian-American physicians. “I am quite certain that with your expertise and the skills that you possess we shall be able to eradicate most of what you have come here for.”
Maharaja Gaj Singh II of Marwar-Jodhpur lauded AAPI’s efforts and praised Bachchan for his commitment.
The convention began Jan. 1 with a welcome reception and cultural program showcasing Maharashtra cultural traditions. A session on “Return to India – Investing, Real Estate, banking Seminar” was conducted by Dileep Choksi of the Chokshi Advisors, Pvt. Ltd.
Ayush Gupta won the first prize that carried a cash prize of Rs. 100,000 in the Research and Poster Contest. Krutika Parasar won the 2nd place and the 3rd place went to Devang Odedra. Disha Sharma won the consolation prize. Dr. Gopal Batra, who chaired the committee that chose the winners among the dozens of submissions from around the world, announced the winners and presented the certificates.
A mega entertainment show presented by local artists took the AAPI delegates down the Bollywood memory lane.
The Summit was packed with seminars, workshops and symposiums on modern research and topics, an agenda developed by experts, according to AAPI Vice President Dr. Ajay Lodha. The Summit also helped establish India-centric guidelines for management of head injury and trauma, said, Dr. Ajeet Singhvi, chair of the AAPI board of trustees.
Pre-conference web based sessions were offered to over 50,000 physicians and for the very first time, there is a live streaming of sessions during GHS 15 which was viewed live by physicians from around the world, according to Dr. Gautam Samadder, secretary of AAPI.
Dr. Seema Jain, President-Elect of AAPI, noted the organization is taking on the many challenging issues and would work together to do whatever possible to eradicate Hepatitis and create awareness about and ways to prevent head injury and trauma. She urged Bachchan and all the delegates and guests to be part of the next Global Healthcare Summit to be held in New Delhi from January 1st to 4th, 2016.