The Healthcare Reception

A Report by Ruchi Mukherjee

Dr. Paul E. Klotman, President & CEO, Baylor College of Medicine recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Analjit Singh, Founder and Chairman of Max India Group on Monday, May 23, 2011. The MOU provides the framework for the two groups to finalize an academic affiliation between BCM and Max Healthcare. The Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston was invited to be present at the signing of this collaboration MOU and congratulates BCM and Max India on this initiative and has offered the full support of the Chamber to make the initiative a success.

The Chamber is presenting a specialized series of programs emphasizing the Healthcare Industry, the Healthcare Series. The first one was held in April, the second of the series was hosted on June 2, 2011 at the Hilton Post Oak with a panel discussion led by Shiv Sarin MD, Chair, Medical Council of India on ‘The Healthcare Industry in India – Opportunities for Entrepreneurs and Institutions’.

The evening reception saw a packed house with distinguished guests from the healthcare industry and other business owners. The panel discussion successfully took off with speakers Bibhuti Mishra, MD Chief of Neurology, Fairfax Hospital, Lopa Mishra MD, Chair and Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Also speaking C.E. Eapen, MD Professor, Department of Hepatology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India and Shiv Sarin, MD, Director, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and Chairman, Board of Governors, Medical Council of India.

With a powerful group of medical entrepreneurs in the house there was no chance for a dull moment. The speakers kept the listeners on the mark for investment ideas and solutions to make the healthcare system of both India and US a better place. The demands were that India needed about 26,000 doctors to teach. India that has the largest number of medical schools was definitely falling short of medical teachers. The other challenge discussed by one of the speakers was about the import of technology from US. The complaint was that the tie-ups are usually with rich hospitals, but the need is to partner with government sectors. Dr. Eapen educated the audience about the vastness and high standards of Vellore Medical College in India and that investment opportunities should be a good initiative.

Overall a very interesting and precise evening with bright speakers. Also spotted at the event IACCGH President Mona Parikh, Shubhra Ghosh from MD Anderson Cancer Center, Aku Patel, Sudha Mani, Harish Katrani, Jay Guerrero Regional Director, Office of Senator John Cornyn and other noted persons from the field of medicine and science from India and Houston.