Vijayawada, January 7: Andhra Pradesh Governor Sri Biswabhusan Harichandan participated as Chief Guest at the inaugural programme of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) Global Health Summit – CEO Forum held in Visakhapatnam, virtually from Raj Bhavan here on Saturday.
Speaking on the occasion Governor Sri Harichandan said that equitable access to public healthcare should be given top most priority, because the purpose of public health is to cater to welfare of the weakest and most vulnerable section of the society.
The Global Health Summit – CEO Forum was organised by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic medical association, representing the interests of over 120,000 physicians of Indian origin in the United States of America and serving as a platform for over 40,000 medical students, Residents and Fellows, supporting their research activities. AAPI is also organizing Global Health Care Summit every year, offering a unique forum for the physicians of Indian origin to come together and share their knowledge, expertise, and best practices with their fellow physicians in India and around the world, and to learn from one another.
Governor Sri Harichandan appreciated the activities of AAPI through Foundation India (AAPI-FI), contributing to the patient healthcare in India, by setting up free clinics and conducting free health camps for cancer screening for women, HPV vaccination to the target population, offering radiological and diagnostic services etc. The Governor said that as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, India faces challenges in the area of public healthcare and that the economic growth experienced by the country since the past one decade has resulted in significant reduction in poverty. He further said that the country has a vibrant pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, and leading corporate hospitals network and yet the country face enormous public healthcare challenge in terms of child malnutrition and low birth weights that often lead to premature death or lifelong health problems. The disparities between the rich and the poor and between those living in urban and rural areas, continue to exist in the society, in providing access to healthcare services, said the Governor.
Governor Sri Harichandan said that Ayushman Bharat Yojana the Government of India’s flagship provides equitable healthcare initiative, to create a healthy, capable, and content new India and provides access to quality health care for the underprivileged population. He further added that the Private Sector Healthcare institutions and Organisations like AAPI should support the efforts of the Centre and the State governments in health promotion and disease prevention activities through public-private partnership and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Dr. Ravi Kolli, President American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, Dr. T. Ravi Raju, Chair, AAPI-GHS India, Dr. Prasad Chalasani, Chair, AAPI-GHS USA, Dr. Sudhakar, Advisor, AAPI-GHS, Dr. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals and Dr. Jagadeesh Babu, CEO Biophore India Pharmaceuticals, Faculty and Delegates from USA and India, CEOs of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Industry, have participated in the summit. Sri R.P. Sisodia, Special Chief Secretary to Governor was also present on the occasion.
