Indo-Russian roundtable on healthcare held in Mumbai

India’s financial capital hosted a roundtable conference this week between members of the health and pharmaceutical industries in Russia and India. Members from Mumbai’s World Trade Centre, All India Association of Industries, Russia India Trade House Mumbai and representatives from the Maharashtra government, were present at the meet, according to the Times of India.

“The healthcare industry in India and Russia has undergone a significant change in the last 15 to 20 years with new research, updated technology and new systems,” the Times cited Maharashtra Public health minister Suresh Shetty as saying.  “The private sector should join hands with the government to provide charitable services for the needy. Private hospitals should adhere to the stipulated guidelines of 20 percent free medical service and a contribution of 2 percent revenues towards medical facilities for the poor. Institutes unwilling to abide by these conditions may function as corporate hospitals sans benefits,” Shetty said, according to the report.

The report also cited Alexander Lukianov, head of the PR Directorate of Moscow Foreign Economic and International Relations Department as saying that the meet could open avenues for ground level co-operation for the Indian and Russian medical fraternities. “Our visit to Indian hospitals has helped us gain first hand understanding and assessment about their functioning,” Lukianov was quoted by the paper as saying. “The Moscow government gives great importance to the co- operation between the doctors, specialists, health services and hospitals between the two countries.”

There hasn’t been much cooperation at the government level in public health between India and Russia, but the pharmaceutical industry is an area of high-growth in Indo-Russian economic toes. In the pharmaceutical sector, India has emerged as one of the most reliable suppliers of quality generic drugs to Russia and there is potential for enhanced exports. India’s major pharmaceutical companies are represented in Russia with many actively exploring the possibility of setting up joint ventures.

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.