Indian Medical Association College of General Practitioners (IMACGP), Association of Spine Surgeons of India (ASSI) and India Medtronic Inc have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the cause of better spinal care. The MoU is intended to create awareness on prevention of injury to the spine, back pain management and cures for a variety of spinal disorders.

Dr J A Jayalal, secretary, IMACGP, Dr S Rajasekaran, president, ASSI and Pawan Arora, business manager - Spine, India Medtronic signed the MOU in the presence of Dr T N Ravisankar, secretary of IMA Tamil Nadu branch.

As a part of this initiative, IMACGP is launching a new course on Back Pain Management and Recent Advances in Spine Surgery in collaboration with ASSI and Medtronic. IMA and ASSI also intend to establish Guidelines for Treatment of Spinal Disorders and Back Pain Management in India. IMA will conduct educational workshops for its members at various locations in association with ASSI and Medtronic.

Indian Medical Association is a national body of doctors looking after the interest of doctors. The Association was started in 1928 on the occasion of the 5th all India Medical Conference at Calcutta. IMACGP offers various courses to enable its members to be update in recent advances in medical sciences.

ASSI, India’s foremost spine society, is a body of expert spine surgeons, orthopedic and neurosurgeons from India and its neighbouring countries who share a special interest in spine surgery. ASSI promotes the cause of spine surgery in India, by providing continuing medical education for interested surgeons via conferences and workshops, and supporting spine research through academic fellowships and research grants.

Medtronic is one of the world leaders offering various device based therapies for treating several spinal diseases. Medtronic is committed to support the cause of scientific training and awareness of the physicians about various spinal problems and treatment options.