The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : New initiative to bring together overseas Indian healthcare professionals

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Friday, Jan 09, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

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New initiative to bring together overseas Indian healthcare professionals

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: A new initiative to bring together overseas Indian healthcare professionals in order to harness their resources and skills to address health care issues in the sub continent – Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO) – was launched at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas function here on Thursday.

An initiative by Prathap Reddy, chairman, Apollo Hospitals, GAPIO aims at becoming an umbrella organisation of doctors of Indian origin all over the world.

Addressing the organisation’s first meeting, Dr. Reddy, who will serve as the founding chair of GAPIO, said, “This body would promote the contribution of Indian doctors to global health and aim at harnessing their skills to address health issues in India and for enhancing the knowledge and skills of Indian health care professionals.”

In a letter to Dr. Reddy, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi stated: “Physicians of Indian origin the world over are a powerful group and this organisation can help enhance the prestige of our country as a nation of highly-educated professionals. Your initiative to bring them under one umbrella should be encouraged. We will be happy to offer necessary assistance in this endeavour.”

GAPIO will be a virtual community ( www.gapio.org), which will have open access to all healthcare professionals in addition to doctors and dentists.

By registering with GAPIO one can participate in the global health agenda and cross-border mentoring programmes, according to a release.

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