Apollo Hospitals Partners with Canada India Foundation

New Delhi, March 31,2017:  Canada India Foundation (CIF), a prominent non-profit public policy organization based in Canada is joining hands with India’s premier private hospital group, Apollo Hospitals, as well as the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of International Trade, to hold its first major event in India, the Canada India Healthcare Summit 2017 (Summit).

This is the first time that these three organizations, a Government entity from Canada, a private sector organization from India, and a non-profit organization made up of Indo-Canadians, have come together in India, and they are inviting 50 speakers and about a hundred more experts from the healthcare sector to present, deliberate and recommend healthcare options for Canada and India, importantly areas that the two countries can work together for mutual benefit and welfare of its citizens

Elaborating on the role of Canada India Foundation in promoting India-Canada ties, Dr. V.I. Lakshmanan, Vice-Chairman and CEO of Process Research ORTECH in Canada, and Chair of the Summit, said, “CIF was formed as a public policy organization and over the years, through its Canada India forums, it has made policy recommendations for stronger Canada India relations. The forums have been widely praised by government, business and academic representatives who had attended past events”. The previous Canada India Healthcare Summit, held in Toronto, Canada in 2015, resulted in several collaborations between Canadian and Indian healthcare institutions, such as one between William Osler Health System and Apollo Hospitals, initiatives by Toronto Rehab and Ontario Telemedicine Network and others, and this was the catalyst to hold the Summit in India to further such interactions”, he said.

Apollo Hospitals eagerly accepted the offer to work with CIF to organize the Summit in New Delhi.  As per Mr. Rahul Reddy, SVP, Strategic Relations & New Initiatives, Apollo Hospitals, “We are excited to be working with the CIF to further strengthen the deep ties between India and Canada.  Especially related to the opportunities and challenges both countries have with healthcare, and how India and Canada can leverage their respective strengths and resources to address them.”

The Summit Co-chaired by Mr. Ramesh Chotai, President of Bromed Pharmaceuticals, and a major contributor to healthcare related trade between Canada and India in the area of generic drugs. Mr.Chotai said that it took a lot of effort and financial resources to put together a summit of this caliber and he was confident that it would produce results beneficial to both countries.

The objectives of the Summit include:

1) Sharing of healthcare knowledge and best practices between the countries in managing a cost-sustainable healthcare ecosystem,

2) Identification of research and education collaboration opportunities, and

3) Promoting Canada and India as mutually preferred investment destinations for strategic investments in the healthcare sector, as well as direct business-to-business interactions.

Topics presented in panel sessions – South Asian Health Issues, Distant and Rural Healthcare, Digital health, Wellness, Aging and Quality Care, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Equipment, Investment in Healthcare, Healthcare Research and Innovation and Healthcare Policy, culminating in a Go-Forward session which will distill ideas presented during the two days and make recommendations for stakeholders in both countries.

Canadian healthcare is estimated to be a $300 billion market, and is the second largest employer in the country while its pharmaceutical industry is the 8th largest in the world. Similarly, Indian healthcare is set to grow to $300 billion by 2020. The number of hospital beds is expected to grow by about 120,000 per year over the next 5-6 years. The two countries also face similar challenges: providing healthcare access to a population spread across a large geography, while lowering costs. While universal healthcare is a core value and practice that defines Canada, India has now renowned for its digital knowhow from where digital health is a natural extension and both countries can benefit from each other’s strength through collaboration.  The Summit will provide an exciting platform to realize the strong synergies, learnings and exciting business, education and research opportunities between the two countries.

“The Ministry of International Trade welcomes the opportunity to partner with CIF on this important initiative. Connecting Ontario companies and researchers helps both jurisdictions become more innovative and productive in a highly competitive global economy. With our highly skilled workforce, top tier research infrastructure and strategic position at the heart of North American markets, Ontario is a natural innovation, trade and investment partner for India,” said Michael Chan, Ontario’s Minister of International Trade.

Apart from its signature forums, CIF also instituted the first Global Indian Award, presented every year to one individual of Indian origin, whose achievements make the global Indian diaspora proud.  The Award which has been given to the likes of Subhash Chandra, Narayana Murthy, Deepak Chopra, Ratan Tata, Tulsi Tanti and Sam Pitroda, will be given this year to renowned industrialist, Kumar Mangalam Birla, at a Gala in Toronto in April this year.

Canada India Healthcare Summit 2017, ITC Maurya, New Delhi, India, March 30-31, 2017