INTRODUCTION A Seminar was held on the occasion of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2012 in Jaipur on 7 th January The Union Health Minister urged the OCI Doctors to undertake voluntary services to improve the access in health care in the country. Two major Associations American Association of Physicians (AAPI), British Association of Doctors offered voluntary services

NODAL CELL As a follow up, Secretary (Health) has constituted a Cell in the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to act as a nodal point to facilitate the process. The members of nodal cell are Shri S.K. Rao, Joint Secretary Dr. Suresh K. Mohammad, Director Shri Sanjeev Chadha, Director

IDENTIFIED PARTNERSHIPS Initially, areas of partnerships identified are Training and capacity building of doctors, nurses, para medical staff Assistance in developing training modules and protocols Facilitating creation of Infrastructure Offering charitable services Developing exchange programme for medical professionals

OCI PROPOSALS The Associations, wanted to pick two or three States to run a demonstration project to test the system and process. To partner and form a PPP to work together in comprehensive cancer care in institutes in India. To attract NRI/PIO into health care infrastructure. Devising ways and means for hassle free voluntary working by not only NRI/PIO physicians but also allied professionals. Continued on next page

OCI PROPOSALS (contd) To attract philanthropists from NRI/PIO business houses. To set a joint working group with Government of India for preparing a detailed action plan.

SPECIFIC PROPOSALS 1. Infectious Disease (ID) Specially Course and Training in India, 2. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Trauma Centres (TC) in Maharashtra and 3. India-U.S. Physician Exchange Program

DECISION TAKEN IN MEETINGS WITH OCI ASSOCIATIONS Secretary(Health) addressed the Health Secretaries of various States to identify demonstration projects/proposals which can be started by Indian doctors settled abroad To identify nodal officers by the states to interact with OCI Associoations

INTERACTION WITH THE ASSOCIATIONS OF OCI A dedicated address created to facilitate interaction with the Associations of Overseas Citizens of India, Decided to develop a dedicated website by the OCI Associations and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare jointly for which technical support will be extended by AAPI and GAPIO The portal is expected to be ready by end September The portal

STATE NODAL OFFICERS So far, 9 States and UTs sent the names of their Nodal officers, in response to the letter written by Secretary (Health). CHANDIGARH Dr. Gopal Bhardwaj, S.M.O., I/c Medicine. Dr. G.B. Singh, Assistant Director Immunization, Office of DHS, Parivar Kalyan Bhawan. KOLKATA Professor Manoj Choudhary, Special Secretary (Medical Education), Department of Health & Family Welfare. CHENNAI Project Director, Tamil Nadu Health System Project / Mission Director, National Rural Health Mission. Continued on next page

PUNJAB Dr. Tejbir Singh, Professor & Head, Department of Community Medicine, Cum Medical Superintendent, GND Hospital, Amritsar. Shri Raj Kamal Chaudhry, Secretary Health & Family Welfare-cum- Mission Director, NRHM. Dr. A. S. Thind, Director. Research & Medical Education. PATNA Shri Sanjay Kumar, Executive Director, State health Society. TRIPURA Dr. Debashish Das, State Programme Officer (FW&RCH). KERALA Dr. M Beena, State Mission Director, NRHM, Thiruvananthapuram. ORISSA Dr. B K Panda, Additional Director, NRHM. JAMMU & KASHMIR Dr Yashpal Sharma, Mission Director, NRHM.

ACTION REQUIRED The remaining states may please send names of their nominated nodal officers To identify demonstration projects to offer to OCI Associations To interact with OCI Associations through dedicated portal Any Suggestions to the nodal cell at the centre

UPCOMING MEETING A delegation of AAPI and GAPIO met the Secretary (Health) on 7 th June 2012 Discussed the agenda for the forthcoming Global Health Care Summit proposed to be held in Kochi in the first week of January Your suggestions welcome