New York: The largest forum of Indian American physicians in the US has started its 26th annual convention in Las Vegas to discuss latest issues in healthcare. Indian Health Minister A. Ramadoss was slated to give a keynote address at the meeting attended by leaders in the medical field in India as well as US lawmakers.

At the five-day convention starting Wednesday, the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) plans to focus on effectively participating and helping in the improvement of the healthcare system in India as well as the changes needed in the US system.

Besides the over 2,000 AAPI members, prominent people attending the meet include Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen, associate secretary of the state department Richard Boucher, Congressman Frank Pallone, who is founder and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India, and Renu Khator, chancellor of the University of Houston System and president of the University of Houston.

Among those attending from India are Narender Saini of the Indian Medical Association, and Pratap C. Reddy, chairman of Apollo Hospitals.

On the highlights of the convention, Pramod Kumar, chairman of the AAPI Convention Committee, said: "We have programmes on both integrative and Ayurvedic medicine. We also have a speaker from India on stem cell research, and a women's forum with renowned speakers."

Sanku S. Rao will take over as president of AAPI from Hemant Patel at the convention. A gastroenterologist practising in Oklahoma since 1979, Rao has held several positions at AAPI.

The entertainment programme lined up at the convention includes performances by singer Kailesh Kher, a Bollywood troupe and Sa Re Ga Ma Pa singers and a fashion show.

A Las Vegas show by celebrity impersonaters Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Celine Dion, and emceed by TV talk show host Jay Leno, is planned.

Lectures and presentations will update delegates on latest advancements in rheumatoid arthritis, headache, maternal diabetes, osteoporosis, coronary artery and peripheral heart diseases, prostate cancer, asthma, brain tumour, prevalence of hypertension in minorities, ethnic and cultural considerations in the treatment of hypertension and diabetes.

AAPI is an influential organisation in the US with 42,000 physicians as its members.

 

Source : IANS