Saturday, March 24, 2007

Medical Diaspora

Diaspora networks represent new market opportunities. Medical services developed in Pittsburgh can do much more than serve people living in the United States:

Cashing in on the dearth of affordable medical expertise in foreign countries, and with an eye on the sizeable Indian diaspora, a US-based medical firm is all set to set up its base in Gujarat to promote offshore healthcare services. Om Healthcare Providers Network Private Limited, which will launch its operations from Vadodara and Ahmedabad, unveiled its plans in Vadodara on Saturday. The idea is to have a network of Indian doctors and hospitals, whose services will be promoted primarily in the US, UK and East Africa, the areas from where presently the bulk of NRIs and foreign patients arrive for healthcare facilities.

With the basic premise of hard-selling Indian medical expertise, Dr Jignesh Patel, who is an alumni of Baroda Medical College (BMC) based in Pittsburgh, US, and works in the realm of critical care and neonatology, joined hands with Ketul Parikh, who is also based in the US and has a background in offshore IT and BPO industries. The ambitious target is to create a nationwide network of 10,000 members, comprising health care service providers, doctors, hospitals, medical tourism vendors, and also providers of Indian treatments like ayurveda, and yoga.

Pittsburgh's aging population and negative growth bode ill for local businesses hoping to service the region. Pittsburgh innovation must go global, on the heels of the Burgh Diaspora.

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