During a health summit, the Indian Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan announced special support from government to Non-Resident Indian (NRI) physicians willing to come back to India and provide healthcare to deprived patients back home.

The 13th annual Global Healthcare Summit (GHS) 2019 was held in Hyderabad, a city in Telangana state, to discuss ways in which over 100,000 physicians of Indian American can interact with and benefit India. It was organized by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) that comprises more than 160 member associations.

Acknowledging that dichotomy is a huge challenge for the government in India and its more than a billion people, Dr. Vardhan said that “even as we grow economically to be a powerful nation, healthcare is a huge challenge. There is an urgent need to enhance healthcare delivery in India.”

In his address, Dr. Harsh Vardhan presented an overview of the healthcare needs of the country and suggested various areas where AAPI could collaborate with the Indian government. He added, “We 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.”

Speaking at the summit, Dr. Suresh Reddy, president of AAPI, said, “The GHS offers an opportunity to meet directly with these physicians who are leaders in their fields and play an integral part in the decision-making process regarding new products and services.”

Dr. Ajay Lodha, former president of AAPI, in his opening welcome address, reminded the audience of some of the summit’s successes including establishing free medical care clinics across India, medical camps, and setting up of India-centric guidelines for the management of Hepatitis C, trauma, and brain injury.

The three-day event began with the inaugural address by Honorable Shri Venkiah Naidu, India’s Vice President, and had as many as 300 participants from India and abroad attending the annual summit.

By Sowmya Sangam