GAPIO holds Mid-Year Conference to discuss way forward

Birmingham, 5 June 2011: With an endeavor to bring together physicians of Indian Origin from across the globe together on one platform, the Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO) today organized its mid-year conference, with a vision to improving healthcare worldwide.

The GAPIO Executive Committee has Dr Prathap C Reddy, President of the society (Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group), Dr Sanku Rao, Vice President (Consultant Gastroenterologist, USA), Dr Ramesh Mehta, Secretary General (Consultant Pediatrician, UK) along with other renowned names from Indian and global healthcare.

It is estimated that there are 1.2 million Physicians of Indian Origin working not only in India, but also, in most of the countries around the world. This strong diaspora of Indian doctors need a common professional platform. There is a need for greater visibility and cohesion of these Physicians. It is with these objectives that the society, Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO) has been formed.

According to Dr Prathap C Reddy, President, GAPIO, GAPIO is a platform which envisions to shape the future healthcare landscape globally. Our mission is to empower physicians of Indian origin to achieve highest of professional standards, to provide quality healthcare, to contribute to local and regional community development; and thereby help to reduce inequalities and alleviate suffering globally. GAPIO would play a prominent role in advocacy for policy changes wherever required and liaising with the government and non-government bodies for their implementation.

There is a plethora of Physicians of Indian Origin working globally who have their roots in India. Their combined intellectual and technical strength can also be a vital force in the development of the Indian healthcare sector. In pursuit of quality healthcare and patient safety, GAPIO would assist in building an international network of Indian physicians working on patient safety to create a model for National reporting and learning in India. We are looking at promoting research through global research institutes and Indian research bodies. We are also working towards defining a common Electronic Medical Record (EMR) strategy for universal access to patient health records and formation of a HUB Health Universal Broadcast™, a site for propagating success of various pilot projects to learn from, said Dr Sanku Rao“ Vice President, GAPIO.

The launch of GAPIO was the first step towards collaborating with the 1.2 million physicians of Indian Origin globally for the cause of global healthcare. The society has been working towards providing a platform to empower Physicians of Indian Origin to achieve highest international standards and act towards engaging with policy makers in order to highlight the challenges faced in the healthcare system not only in India but across the globe. Physicians of Indian origin have made significant contributions to healthcare systems worldwide. GAPIO serves as a forum and an advocate for these clinicians to mobilize their collective experience and expertise to help address global health issues with focus on India; assisting development of quality health care with affordable access for all, said Dr Ramesh Mehta “ Secretary General, GAPIO.

GAPIO was launched in January 2011 in India wherein professionals from the healthcare sector participated in the nine breakout sessions in the fields of Research, Education, Quality, Health IT, Mental Health, Public Health, UN MDG, Role of medical students and This interchange by leading professionals from across the globe earlier this year has defined the objectives of the society.

Objectives of GAPIO

  1. To participate in global health agendas by liaising with organizations in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
  2. To promote initiatives that empowers individual physician.
  3. To liaise with appropriate statutory and registering bodies internationally.
  4. To promote greater understanding of challenges faced in addressing a range of healthcare issues.
  5. To actively contribute towards medical education, training and research.
  6. To encourage its members to support social and cultural organizations.
  7. To offer support and encouragement to statutory and non-statutory institutions.

About Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO)
There are 125,500 Physicians of Indian Origin working in the English speaking Western world (USA, UK, Australia and Canada combined), with the major constituent being from USA and UK. Between 10-30% of the physicians working in USA, UK, Canada and Australia have their roots in India. There are a number of Indian Physicians working in Middle East, South East Asia and Africa.

This substantial workforce of physicians is a valuable resource, which can help to mobilize significant developments in the health field globally. This strong Diaspora of Indian doctors who are highly respected and powerful, need a common professional platform. There is a need for greater visibility and cohesion of these physicians. Their combined intellectual and technical strength can also be a vital force in the development of the Indian healthcare sector. It is with these objectives that Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO) has been formed. This body will have representation from many countries where physicians of Indian origin are present.