US and India advance healthcare co-operation

The US and India are looking to establish closer ties between their top medical schools.

The initiative was one of a series of measures discussed by Indian minister of health and family welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad and the US secretary for health and human services Kathleen Sebelius at a meeting last week.

If finalised it would see close collaboration between US medical institutes of excellence and the six ‘All India Institute of Medical Science’ like institutes currently being established by the Indian government.

Another topic discussed at the meeting, the second Azad and Sebelius have had in the past month, was the establishment of a global disease detection centre, with both sides agreeing this needed to be sped up.

Azad also urged the need for a strong US position in support of the ‘One World One Health’ concept in the context of the avian influenza pandemic.

India has become increasingly important in global healthcare terms as it continues to grow as a major supplier of generics in Asia and is listed in IMS Health’s updated tier II ’pharmerging’ hit list.

Ben Adams