A large number of top functionaries of hospitals and heads of pharma and medical devices companies from India and abroad will be meeting, in the presence of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, as part of the Global Healthcare Summit 2013 from January 1 to 3, at Kochi, Kerala.

The CEO Forum, involving top players from the field and looking to bring innovative and cost-effective healthcare solutions to India, is part of the Summit being organised by the Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO) and Indian Medical Association (IMA), in collaboration with the Union Ministries of Health and Overseas Indian Affairs, said a release here.

The summit, a public-private partnership initiative, is a progressive transformation from the first Indo-US Healthcare Summit launched by AAPI, USA in 2007. Over 1000 doctors from India and abroad will take part in the conference.

“The conclave of the CEOs, being held for the first time as part of the global healthcare event, will open up new partnerships, pave way from fresh investments, exchange of ideas and transfer of know-how and healthcare solutions,” said AAPI president Dr Narendra Kumar who is also the chairman of the summit.

The conference, involving large number of eminent doctors from India and abroad, aims at advancing the accessibility, affordability and the quality of world-class healthcare to the people of India. “Among other areas, the summit will focus on prevention, diagnosis, treatment options and share ways to truly improve healthcare transcending global boundaries,” he said.

On January 2, CEOs from major healthcare sectors including pharmaceutical, medical devices & technology, hospitals and teaching institutions from all over the world will be participating and exploring potential opportunities for collaboration.

Omar Ishrak, worldwide CEO of Medtronic, will be the keynote speaker at the forum, to be attended by Azad, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, senior officials from the Centre and policy makers.

Dr M Ayyappan, chairman and managing director of HLL Lifecare Limited, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) medical director Dr Prem Nazir, Dubai-based DM Healthcare chairman Dr Azad Moopen, Narayana Hrudayalaya chief Dr Devi Shetty, Manipal University advisor Dr M S Valiathan, American Medical Association president Dr Jeremy Lazarus, Dr Rajan Badwe of Tata Institute, Sami Labs managing director Dr Muhammed Majeed, Medtronic managing director (Asia Division) Milind Shah, Apollo Hospitals chairman Dr Prathap C Reddy, Manipal University CEO Dr Ranjan Pai, president of Hinduja Hospitals (Europe) Prakash Hinduja, secretary general of Hinduja Hospitals Vinoo Hinduja, Dr M Sahadullah of Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr Jitendra Maganti of Seven Hills Hospital, Dr K M Cherian of Frontier Healthcare, Dr Philip Augustine from Lakeshore Hospital, Kochi, Dr Neal Simon from American University of Antigua, Dr Antony Pulikkal of Medical Trust, Cochin, Dr Rehan Sayeed of Motherhood Hospital, Bangalore, Dr Joseph Chalil (Boehringer-Ingelhiem, USA), and Pfizer India managing director Aijaz Tobaccowalla will be among those to attend the forum.

V S Sivakumar, Kerala Minister for Health, T K A Nair, advisor to Prime Minister, Rajiv Mehrishi, secretary, Ministry for Overseas Indian Affairs, P K Pradhan, Principal Health Secretary, Union Ministry of Health, Dr Jagdish Prasad, Director General of Health Services, Dr G N Singh, Drug Controller General of India, Dr Eswara Reddy, Device Controller of India,  Dr K Mohandas, Vice Chancellor- Kerala University of Health Sciences, K Jayakumar, Vice Chancellor, Malayalam University, Rajeev Sadanandan, Principal Health Secretary, Kerala, MCI Chairman Dr K K Talwar, and Health Attache of US Embassy in India Steven Smith will also address the meet.