The Medical Students’ Association of India (MSAI) also known as IFMSA India (International Federation of Medical Students’ Association) will host IFMSA’s 61st General Assembly in August 2012 in Mumbai.

Only months after being adopted by the IFMSA as the 100th member of the Federation, IFMSA India has won the bid to host this prestigious Assembly and the focus of which will be Universal Health Care. The General Assembly in Mumbai will welcome 1000 delegates from 104 countries to be a part of this esteemed initiative to deliberate on the issue of Universal Healthcare.

This year’s theme of Universal Health Care - sometimes referred to as universal health coverage, universal coverage, universal care or social health protection – aims to discuss health care systems organized around providing a specified package of benefit to all members of a society with the end goal of providing financial risk protection, improved access to health services and improved health outcomes.

Pratap Naidu, president of IFMSA India said, “The support that we received from our country to get India the membership was outstanding. The organization is only getting bigger and better and now that India is included in the IFMSA, it's only gotten us more respect and responsibility. The hard work put in by the entire team of IFMSA- India has totally paid off. We are overwhelmed with joy to host this event.”

IFMSA is an international organisation comprised of future physicians that are interested in global health issues. IFMSA is recognized by both the United Nations and the World Health Organization as the international forum for medical students. Throughout its history, numerous students have been active in the member organisations of IFMSA, collectively representing more than 90 countries across the six continents.

Every year, nearly 8,000 students participate in the exchange programmes of IFMSA; thousands more design projects, attend conferences, and plan events in such areas as human rights and peace, medical education, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS, and public health.