“One in seven patients in USA is seen by an Indian physician”
Interview with Dr Jayesh Shah, President, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
Who are your greatest inspiration, and why? Please name one person living, and any other from history....
Mahatma Gandhi is one of my inspirations. He was a living example of selfless work to improve lives of people all over the world. He lived by his principles of truth and nonviolence. I was impressed by his quote, “My message is my life.” He was brought up in a Bania family from Gujarat, just like me. His book “The story of my experiments with truth” gives the message that any great person like Gandhi can have similar weaknesses that every human being has, but still he can overcome them and achieve his goals. I derive great inspiration from Mr. Abdul Kalam. I was fascinated by his book “Wings of Fire” and Vision 2020. He also was born into an ordinary family and became an innovator, nuclear scientist, and then the President of India who continues to spread his message to bring about social change in the community even after his term. His message to bring harmony at home, community, society can bring peace all over the world.
AAPI has been at the forefront of bringing in good healthcare practices to India. Please tell us about your India vision…
AAPI has done extensive work since last several years trying to bring affordable, accessible and quality care to every individual in India. AAPI, in partnership with multiple global leaders along with Indian experts in various specialties are meeting together to develop best health care practices and guidelines for various diseases.
You have a conference scheduled in Ahmedabad in January 2014. What is the main agenda of that conference?
To be attended by nearly 1,000 delegates from around the world, Global Health Summit 2014 is a forum for exploring the most innovative, efficient, cost-effective healthcare solutions for India. It aims at advancing the accessibility, affordability and quality of world-class healthcare to the people of India. While seeking to identify ways for greater collaboration and cooperation between the physicians and health care providers in India with those of Indian origin and major healthcare providers abroad, the Summit will focus on prevention, diagnosis, treatment options and share ways to truly improve healthcare transcending global boundaries.
What are the principal challenges before the Indian healthcare sector?
• Access to quality health care
• Emergency medical treatment
• Biomedical waste disposal
• Guidelines for appropriate clinical trials
• Linking primary and community health care to academic health centers to provide quality health care
• Need for fellowship programs in Infectious diseases, emergency medicine and trauma
• Prevention of hospital acquired infections by providing good infection control practices.
• Shortage of health care providers
Medical Value Travel or Medical Tourism is a growing area in India. What your tips for success to the Healthcare Industry in India?
India is pioneer in providing best health care at cheaper rate. India has very talented physicians and with growth of corporate hospitals, medical tourism will continue to increase.
What are some of the fundamentals that have made healthcare system in the USA accomplished and sound?
• Standardization of acceptable practice of medicine and treatment guidelines,
• Accreditation of hospitals by regulatory agencies,
• Mandatory Continued licensing /Continuing ME requirement
• Support of trained allied health professionals, nurses to the physicians.
—Dr Jayesh Shah is a speaker at the first Global Indian Business Conference being held on January 10, 2014 at the Federation House, Tansen Marg, New Delhi. For details log on to www.gibc2014.com
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