Udaipur, India -- December 28th, 2016: â€œLet us develop a structural relationship between AAPI and the government of India,â€ Honâ€™able Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, Indiaâ€™s Minister for Health, told the hundreds of international delegates, while inaugurating the 10th annual Global Healthcare Summit (GHS) 2016 on December 28th. Organized by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) that serves as an umbrella organization for more than 160 member associations nationwide, GHS 2016 offers a platform to nearly 100,000 physicians of Indian origin it represents, to explore ways to giving back to their motherland.

â€œIt is your love for your motherland that has brought you here today,â€ Nadda said as the audience cheered him loudly. While describing them as leading luminaries, excelling in the medical field, contributing to make a positive impact in the healthcare sector through their dedication, commitment, knowledge and skills, Nadda, who is a physician himself, sai, â€œWe are optimistic about making a positive change in the health scenario of India, where we are seeking to have a high quality, affordable healthcare to all of our citizens.â€

In his introductory welcome address, Dr. Ajay Lodha, President of AAPI, reminded the Minister that the Global Healthcare Summit (GHS) has come to be recognized as been a very unique and a truly pioneering effort to address areas of concern which are of significant consequences on health care scenario in India. Past summits have identified areas of mutual interest and also integrated advancements of healthcare facilities in India besides ways and means of tackling long term concerns leading to long-term collaborations. He reminded the audience of many outcomes of the Summit, which have resulted in establishing free medical care clinics across India, medical camps, and establishing of India-centric guidelines for management of Hepatitis C, Brain Injury and Trauma. He urged the Government of India to â€œsupport our initiatives and thus help us help the healthcare needs of our motherland, India.â€

The nation\'s growing wealth has yet to find a panacea for India\'s overburdened public health care system. Acknowledging that there is a dichotomy in India, which is a huge challenge for the government and its more than a billion people, Nadda said that â€œeven as we grow economically to be a powerful nation, healthcare is a huge challenge. There is an urgent need to enhance the healthcare delivery in India.â€

Seeking collaboration and participation from AAPI in every possible area in the large healthcare sector in India. â€œYou know the needs of the nation. Now, itâ€™s your responsibility to see where your expertise and services will fit in and how you can make a positive impact in the healthcare system in India,â€ the Minister told the AAPI delegates.

During his address, Nadda presented an overview of the healthcare needs of the country and suggested several areas where AAPI could collaborate with the government of India, including establishing Memorandum of Understanding with international organizations, which will support healthcare in India; Transferring advanced research and experiences in the medical field and enhance the quality of medical education in India; Organizing healthcare/medical camps in rural and economically backward regions of the nation; and, addressing hygienic and preventive measures and enhancing the healthcare delivery in India.

K. C. Saraf, Rajasthanâ€™s Minister for Health, proposed that each AAPI member return to oneâ€™s place of birth and identify the local needs of the place and invest oneâ€™s time and resources and talents and skills there in order to make a positive impact on the health of your native place. â€œIf AAPI has a project in its efforts to enhance the healthcare system in Rajasthan, the Ministry of Health will collaborate and provide all possible support to it,â€ the Minister promised the AAPI delegates who had come from around the United States to participate in the 10th edition of the Global Healthcare Summit in Udaipur.

Others who had addressed the event included, Dr. Kirti Jain, who spoke passionately about the many initiatives he had undertaken, and about the Project ife, that is aimed at daving the lives of thousands of women in the state of Rajasthan. Mrs. Amrita Fatnavis, the wife of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and a leading singer, underscored the need to recognize the fact that the love for the motherland that has reckoned the physicians of Indian origin to return to India, seeking ways to make India and its over a billion people live healthier life. Raju Purohit, a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, along with several dignitaries, including AAPIâ€™s executive committee members and the chair of AAPIâ€™s BOT, adorned the podium.

GHS 2016, a three-day event began with the first ever day long international research and poster contest and had as many as 300 participants from India and abroad, competing at the prestigious contest. Cash prizes and Certificates were awarded at the inaugural ceremony to winners of the contest.

A mega entertainment show by local artists took the AAPI delegates down the memorable and nostalgic moments of Indiaâ€™s rich cultural heritage. The cultural event by talented artists displayed elegantly how the culture of the times shaped the ways in which the Bollywood world and its popular stars of each period embodied the essence of art and culture of their respective times in history.

â€œOur ability to share knowledge and influence the medical world has never been greater,â€ said Dr. Lodha, President of AAPI. â€œThe advancement of modern technology, the quality of care we provide and the values that we support can reverberate around the world as never been before,â€ he said.

â€œWhile the networking and the CMEs help educate AAPI leadership and member physicians on cutting edge disease topics and cutting edge intervention, through this work during GHS 2016, AAPI is excited to showcase the full heights that Asian Indian physicians have reached, elevate educational quality, stimulate the AAPI general physician members, bring further recognition to these renowned physicians, and inspire our young physicians-in-training,â€ Dr. Lodha explained. For additional information on AAPI and its Global Healthcare Summit, please visit: www.aapiusa.org; www.aapighsindia.org

Ajay Ghosh

AAPIâ€™s 10th Global Healthcare Summit 2016 in Udaipur Inaugurated J. P. Nadda wants to develop structural relationship between AAPI and Govt. of India