To curtail the current TB pandemic in India and globally through focus on research, over 230 health care professionals, researchers, scientists, clinicians and academicians discussed innovations and solutions to address infectious disease challenges on the occasion of a symposium themed ‘Advancing TB Research – An Exploration of Opportunities’ hosted by  PD Hinduja Hospital in association with The Division of AIDS (NIAID, NIH).

The symposium addressed the most pressing global and national health concern of Infectious diseases specifically Tuberculosis (TB), through innovative and multi-disciplinary solutions. TB is the world's largest epidemic and bears a disproportionately large burden of the world's tuberculosis rates. Experts emphasized on the importance of research to curtail the current TB pandemic in India and globally.

India accounts for 35 per cent of the total global burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and as per World Health Organization (WHO) statistics for 2011.

Highlighting the importance of this workshop, Gautam Khanna, CEO, PD Hinduja Hospital said, “India has the highest burden of TB in the world. As per WHO statistics, 2.2 million new cases of TB were reported in India few years ago which is close to 25% of new TB cases reported all over the world. The main objective of this symposium was to bring all the relevant stakeholders from across the globe together to discuss challenges of TB diagnosis, drug resistance and public awareness in India and discuss ways to significantly improve health outcomes for communicable and non-communicable diseases which are affecting India and the world. “

PP Hinduja, founder member, PD Hinduja Hospital & MRC said, “Ending TB can be only achieved only through multidisciplinary approach and with greater collaboration within and across governments, and with partners form civil society, communities, researchers and the private sector. I am glad that the Hinduja Hospital is actively taking part in this collaboration and thus directly contributing to the campaign for a TB-Free India.”

 In accordance with the hospital’s vision of institutionalizing health care by building bridges between India and the West, Vinoo Hinduja, managing trustee, PD Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre said, “This workshop emphasized on global collaborations to ensure highest quality medical research in the space of infectious diseases as well as sharing latest advancement in research and clinical strategies for enhanced treatment outcomes.”

Some of the other Indian speakers at the symposium were Dr Sunil Khaparde, Deputy DG, Central TB Division, Government of India, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, secretary, Department of Health Research, Director General Indian Council of Medical Research; Dr. Daksha Shah, Mumbai TB Officer.