Indian Ambassador launches Indo-Saudi Medical Forum in Jeddah

By: Abdul Rahman M. Baig

JEDDAH, December 29:  The Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr Ausaf Sayeed on December 25 formally launched the Indo Saudi Medical Forum (ISMF) in Jeddah, in the presence of eminent healthcare personalities of the kingdom. The forum is aimed at promoting bilateral ties between the medical fraternities of India and Saudi Arabia as well as other stakeholders in the field of healthcare from the two countries.

Addressing the launch ceremony, Dr. Ausaf Sayeed said both India and Saudi Arabia have further strengthened their ties.  He said that the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Saudi Arabia in October last year in addition to the signing of a series of important memorandums of understandings (MoU) in different fields, including healthcare, have provided new momentum and strengthened the already existing strong bilateral relations between the two countries.

“As part of Vision 2030 there is a drive to open the healthcare sector to the private sector, while also becoming a manufacturing hub for medical devices and pharmaceutical products, as the Kingdom imports nearly 60% of the pharma products”, the Ambassador said adding that Indian is the pharma hub of the world, and its cooperation in the field of research, especially vaccines not only for Covid 19 vaccines but other diseases, is showing great progress.

“In addition, the other avenues of collaboration could be the setting up of manufacturing of pharmaceuticals in Saudi Arabia, with the Kingdom becoming the hub, cooperation in medical equipment and also construction of hospitals that could be outsourced for long term care.”  “The objectives are wide and possibilities enormous,” he added.

The ambassador, who previously held the position of Consul General of India in Jeddah during 2004 to 2008, said “the setting up of this forum is aimed at promoting ties between the medical fraternities of India and Saudi Arabia as well as other stakeholders in the field of healthcare from these two countries”

“This is a great moment and other countries could emulate this forum, and take it forward, complementing the Saudi Vision 2030 and Indian premier’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat” policy of being self-sufficient and becoming a manufacturing hub and adding that another area of interest could be telemedicine,” Dr. Sayeed said.

The ambassador further highlighted the immense opportunities that “are waiting to be tapped in the healthcare industry.” He said the new forum, led by an energetic and experienced team, would be a good platform for complementing the steps and initiatives being taken by both governments in Riyadh and New Delhi, to increase cooperation in the field of healthcare. He pointed out that India had become the “pharmacy of the world” during the corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic. “India stands ready to play its part in alleviating the difficulties of the global community during times of global health crises.”

He later launched the new constitution of the ISMF in the presence of Dr. Ashraf Abdul Qayoum Amir, Dr. M.S. Kareemuddin, Dr. Iqbal Musani and Y. Sabir (Acting Consul General and Consul Hajj).

The ISMF has three chapters, one each in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam. The Jeddah chapter of the non-profit is the third wing of ISMF under the aegis of the Embassy of India, Riyadh. It will comprise of Indian and Saudi doctors and experts in the field of healthcare and wellness. It is expected to play a supporting role in strengthening Indo-Saudi cooperation in the field of healthcare.

The forum’s re-launching was necessitated because of the focus of healthcare especially after the post-COVID. Across the globe, healthcare has been accorded a new focus. It was first launched in 2006 as the brainchild of then Consul General (and Present Ambassador) Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, with Mr. Sobhi Baterjee (Chairman of Saudi German Group of Hospitals) as the forum’s President. Again in 2011, it was re-launched with Dr. Faisal Shaheen, director/founder of Jeddah Kidney Center as the president.”

Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Dr. Sayeed thanked Dr. Ashraf Abdul Qayoum Amir, chief medical officer (CMO) at Jeddah’s high-profile hospital, International Medical Center (IMC), for agreeing to become the forum’s president. He also thanked veteran and popular Indian pediatrician, Dr. M.S. Kareemuddin and Dr. Iqbal Musani, for assuming the posts of forum’s vice president and general secretary. This forum was initially formed and inaugurated in June 2006 by the then Indian minister of human resources, Arjun Singh, in Jeddah. It has now been re-launched and expanded to cover the entire Kingdom with three chapters in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam.

Speaking on the occasion, founder Member of the forum Dr.Kareemuddin, a recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award said the forum would enable “setting up appropriate research for all forms of medical systems including alternative medical systems. It would enhance clinical activities including telemedicine, teleconsultation, teleradiology and telesurgery.” “But most importantly it will help us strive for uniformity of medical education in both the countries to conform to the international standards in order to facilitate bilateral recognition of medical qualifications,” Dr. Kareemuddin added.

Mrs. Nouf Marwai, the first Saudi to be awarded Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian awards by the President of India, who is also a yoga instructor and founder of Arab Yoga Foundation, expressed that both India and Saudi Arabia can benefit with a growing synergy in alternatives and a focus on wellness. “India already welcomes millions seeking wellness and therapy in the medical sector and this is bound to grow”, she said.

“With the changing perspectives in the Kingdom toward yoga and the modern expertise and excellent facilities in holistic healthcare in India, the Saudis could benefit from this healthcare system”, she said.  She said “India was chosen because it  has great professionals in medical care and has a big role to play in wellness with a dedicated Ayush Ministry under whose umbrella Ayurvedic medicine, Unani medicine, Homeopathic medicine and naturopathy is practiced.”

“India has modern medical facilities in allopathic medicine and the cost of treatment is affordable so much with expertise and economy on offer, India is a good destination for treatment. In addition it is the home of wellness with alternatives on offer,” she added.

Dr. Iqbal Musani presented a PowerPoint presentation where he highlighted the areas of cooperation between India and Saudi healthcare professionals. He also highlighted the potentials for bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the field of medical research.

He also stressed the growing expertise in modern medical care, growth of the pharma industry, the burgeoning research in vaccines and the disposable medical products industry, while emphasizing the quality of Indian doctors in many specialties.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, Acting Consul General Y. Sabir, who is also the chief coordinator for the forum, said the Indo-Saudi Medical Forum aimed to serve as a key platform point for high-level informal interactions between the medical fraternities of both India and Saudi Arabia. He Introduced the executive team of ISMF followed by the announcement of the city coordinators.

Office bearers of the Jeddah chapter include Chief Coordinator Y. Sabir, Dr. Ashraf Abdul Qayoum Amir  (president), Dr. Kareemuddin (vice president), Dr. Musani (general secretary) and Dr. Faheem Rahman (joint secretary-cum treasurer). The Executive Members of the forum are Dr. Rima S. Bader (Saudi), Dr. Ravi Kumar, Padma Shri Mrs. Nouf Marwai (Saudi), Dr. Mohammed Mujibur Rahman, Dr. Ataat Khan, Dr. May Abu-Ateeg (Saudi) and Dr. Kavitha Marusamy.

The city coordinators of ISMF are Dr. Mohd Najmussadiq Khan (Makkah), Dr. Anjum Shakeel (Madinah), Dr. Syed Sadiq Hussain (Taif), Dr. Mohammad Abdul Mujeeb (Najran), Dr. Pramod Kumar (Jizan), Dr. Sajid Mohammed (Abha), Dr. Shashikanth M. Helwar (Khamis Mushayt – Asir), Dr. Asif Kandampath Puthiyadath (Tabuk), Yousef Rishal P.T . (Yanbu), Mohammed Rizwan (Bisha) and Chandan Prabhakar (Qunfudah).

Prominent members who attended the launch included Hamna Maryam, consul (Commerce, Press, Info And Culture) at the Indian Consulate; Dr. Khalid Mutabagani, CEO and hospital director of Hammad Group of Hospitals, Mohammed Alungal, chairman of Abeer Medical Group; V.P. Mohammed Ali, chairman and managing director of Jeddah National Hospital, Dr. Kavitha Marusamy of Ibn Sina Medical College; Dr. Ataat Khan,  Dr. Ashfaq Hussain Maniyar, senior ophthalmologist at King Abdul Aziz University, Dr. Khaja Yaminuddin, diabetologist at King Abdul-Aziz specialist hospital in Taif and a large number of Indian and Saudi doctors with another group of Indian and Saudi doctors joined the program virtually.