IndiaPost.com - AAPI plans Indo-US health summit in New Delhi

India Post News Services

CHICAGO: The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) has planned a grand Indo-US Health Summit to be held in New Delhi in the second week of December this year for further boosting joint efforts between the two countries in the field of medicine and health care, according to Dr Hemant Patel, the newly elected AAPI President.

In a talk to this paper, Dr Patel said that AAPI had signed a MoU with the Indian government early this year during the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas celebrations for revamping rural health in India. It will also act as a milestone in growing relationship between the two countries in the health care arena. Dr. Patel said that he and his colleagues had a meeting with the Indian Federal Minister, Vayalar Ravi during his recent visit to New York and they discussed the Indo-US Health summit.

Vayalar Ravi who happens to be the NRI Affairs Ministry is said to have enthusiastically welcomed the summit idea and has promised all help from his government. The two days summit will be held on December 14 and 15. Dr Patel pointed out that AAPI has already collected data on the prevalence of diabetes in India through case studies at Karkadi, a village near Baroda- Gujarat and it reveals a relative high incidence of this disease among Indians which again is attributable to food habits.

The AAPI organized summit would have a threadbare discussion on this point besides addressing its concern over growing HIV/AIDS menace and improving rural health. AAPI has sought the help of the minister for ensuring a greater participation from organizations All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Indian Medical Association and health care personnel, including government officials. The AAPI members who met Ravi also appraised him of the efforts that organization is making in cementing Indo-US relationship in political field .

Ravi appreciated these efforts and indicated that the Indian government would welcome AAPI playing a greater role in this direction too. AAPI has on its agenda meeting US law makers coming September. Dr Patel also mentioned in his talk to India Post that AAPI has plans to invite top ranking US leaders like Rep. Frank Pallone, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina) and Rep. Steny Hoyer among others. "Hopefully, we will have an august gathering and meaningful dialogues among health care personnel from two countries and government leaders," he said.

The idea of health summit is essentially AAPI's brain child and if it succeeds, it will be a forerunner of many such meets in the future. This will also pave the way for further, rather continuing, efforts on the part of Indian American physicians, to do their bit for improving health care system in India. Dr Patel added that AAPI Charitable Foundation has also slated a fund raiser later this year for raising funds for its charitable activities in India as well as in this country.

For the last fifteen years, AAPI Charitable Foundation has provided continuous and necessary care for the sick and destitute through its fifteen clinics in rural and deprived areas throughout India. It provides preventative immunizations, eye camps, and fixtures for the disabled, HIV care and other services to almost a million people.

AAPI Charitable has participated whenever and wherever calamity has struck, whether in India or the United States. It raised more than fifty thousand dollars for Katrina and given fifty-five thousand dollars for Tsunami reconstruction.