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Indian doctors' body in US vows to build trust
Indian docs practising in US have decided to achieve efficiency and build trust among its members.
The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), a body representing Indian doctors practising in the country, will work to achieve administrative efficiency and build trust among members.
Dr. Vijay Koli, incoming president of AAPI, said he would build on the achievements of the organisation so far. "I have had a significant input in the current agenda. My goal is to continue the work rather than reinvent the wheel," Koli told IANS.
He said that though AAPI was suffering because of a controversy over its leadership in 2006, there were many positive things to focus on.
"AAPI's major work is done though committees. The standing committees would continue. The ad hoc committees that I have an option to drop have done well, so I am going to continue with them (as well)."
"My vision for AAPI is to get the house in order, achieve administrative efficiency, build trust in the membership and be fiscally responsible and accountable," Koli said.
AAPI has a Clinical Externship Programme that evaluates new doctors from India by affiliating them with established physicians here who may recommend them to various hospitals.
The Practice Management Programme advises those setting up their medical practice.
"The third set of committees are the Indian health initiatives, which work for the blind, those suffering from diabetes and AIDS and help in emergency care," Koli said.
The committees have been asked to share their agendas. "I have told them to come up with a mission - what they want to accomplish in the one year that I am president and subsequently," Koli said.
AAPI has over 25,000 members. "The membership is low because people would join (only) if they feel you are addressing issues relevant to them and advocating on their behalf," he said.
Koli pointed out that the American Medical Association's (AMA) membership had not been going up much either.
"This is because issues relevant to members are sometimes taken up by sister organisations. On some issues, we are going with the AMA for instance," Koli said.
He said the AAPI budget for the year was $500,000. "We are already cutting down on what we don't need to spend on," Koli said, adding that lawsuits would, however, take away some of the funds.
Like the ongoing lawsuit where Dr Sampat Shivangi, who won the election for president-elect 2006 but withdrew his candidacy because of a controversy over his credentials, only to take back his withdrawal soon after.
Shivangi has filed a case against outgoing president Jagan Ailinani for allegedly violating the bylaws of AAPI.
"The lawsuit will go only when the party filing it has withdrawn it," Koli said. "It creates a bit of an atmosphere that takes away valuable time for doing things for our members. It is also expensive and AAPI's resources are already strained."
