IndiaPost.com - Work with us on healthcare issues: Ohio Governor

NEW YORK: Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio has sought the cooperation of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) in improving healthcare and making Ohio a healthy state in the US. The State of Ohio plans to open an India office in New Delhi this month to attract investments and business from India, the governor, who is a psychologist by profession, said.

Addressing the annual meet of AAPI Central Ohio chapter in Columbus recently, Gov. Strickland said managed care has become managed cost with HMOs losing track of their vision. Instead of service, they are now making money to ensure profits to investors.

With the result, less money is now available to physicians and patients care, AAPI should help focus better prevention strategy and look into healthcare disparity among ethnic divisions and geographic locations. He said Ohio has strong healthcare providers, doctors and hospitals such as Cleveland Clinic, Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus and Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

He thanked the physicians of Indian origin involved in the healthcare delivery to citizens of Ohio. The State accounts for over 25 percent of all clinical trials conducted in the US and AAPI could play a leading role in this area, he added.

The Governor said Ohio is much diversified state comprising 40 languages and 336 different ethnic groups. Indian-American population in the State has gone up from 21,000 in 1990s to about 40,000 in 2000, projecting 86 percent increase. More than 75 percent of Indians have a bachelor's degree and form part of the few educated ethnic groups in Ohio.

The governor showered praise on Indian physicians in Ohio for providing excellent medial care and thanked them for their dedication to patients. Dr. Hemant Patel, AAPI President, keynote speaker, briefed the governor on healthcare issues in the US and how the subject is now the hot topic of debate among the presidential aspirants.

Indian-American doctors in particular are frustrated by the lack of coverage for so many of their patients especially in rural parts of America. "We want to be able to provide quality healthcare for the currently 47million Americans that lack it," he said. He said AAPI strongly believes that any health reform must involve physicians' voice.

Dr. Patel congratulated Dr. John Johnson and his dynamic team in Central Ohio for launching charitable clinic and for taking greater involvement at national level. Dr. John Johnson, president of Central Ohio chapter, said that the chapter has been in existence for over 20 years with over 400 active members. It has reached out to the local community in a big way.

It was conducting free health fairs with specialists and the success of the fairs has prompted the chapter to go in for full-fledged charitable clinic to be set up at Chinmaya Mission School in North Columbus. It has raised $25,000 to set up the free clinic for the uninsured and also donated funds to three charitable organizations such as Asha, Ray of Hope Foundation and Meals on Wheels.

Dr. Ila Madia, secretary said AAPI wants to integrate with the mainstream and also with Indian-Americans in the area to provide complete healthcare. On free clinic to be run under the auspices of AAPI, she said a full-fledged clinic will be opened soon where treatment, drugs, preliminary lab tests and prescriptions will be given free to the needy.

AAPI physicians would work voluntarily on rotation basis, she said. Dr. Gautam Samadder, vice president explained the various activities undertaken to promote AAPI in the region. Dr. Bivik Shah, treasurer, proposed a vote of thanks.