azskeptic
06-27-2004, 12:05 PM
http://news.newkerala.com/world-news/?action=fullnews&id=25654
World News > US official lauds Indian American physicians
San Diego, June 27 (IANS) :
A top health official of the Bush administration has lauded Indian American physicians for their work in underserved areas of the country.
Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Claude A. Allen said: "In our inner cities, it is often physicians of Indian origin (who are) serving poor blacks and Hispanic Americans."
He noted that the same was happening in academia.
Allen was the keynote speaker at the concluding gala of the 22nd annual convention of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin. He was speaking to an audience of some 3,000 families of Indian American physicians.
Allen, who works closely with Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson on major policy and management issues, thanked Indian American physicians for "service to all Americans".
He also urged them to advise patients to take advantage of the new Medicare card initiated in May.
Allen said the US healthcare system must be reformed and malpractice insurance controlled through tort reform.
Former governor of California, Jerry Brown, a Democrat, who more than a decade ago instituted caps on economic damages from malpractice suits, said other states could duplicate California's regulations.
Allen, who also manages a $539 billion budget of Health and Human Services, the fifth largest budget in the world, noted, "We are aware that our medical system in America is badly in need of medical reform."
Estimates show the country would save $78 billion a year if reasonable non-economic damages were instituted in malpractice insurance cases. "This approach will reduce healthcare costs and increase healthcare availability," he said.
"What happened in California can happen in other states. If you galvanise and strategise, it can be done," said Brown, who was the first governor to appoint an Indian American, attorney Shan Thevar, to the State Medical Board and later, another Indian American physician to the same board.
World News > US official lauds Indian American physicians
San Diego, June 27 (IANS) :
A top health official of the Bush administration has lauded Indian American physicians for their work in underserved areas of the country.
Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Claude A. Allen said: "In our inner cities, it is often physicians of Indian origin (who are) serving poor blacks and Hispanic Americans."
He noted that the same was happening in academia.
Allen was the keynote speaker at the concluding gala of the 22nd annual convention of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin. He was speaking to an audience of some 3,000 families of Indian American physicians.
Allen, who works closely with Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson on major policy and management issues, thanked Indian American physicians for "service to all Americans".
He also urged them to advise patients to take advantage of the new Medicare card initiated in May.
Allen said the US healthcare system must be reformed and malpractice insurance controlled through tort reform.
Former governor of California, Jerry Brown, a Democrat, who more than a decade ago instituted caps on economic damages from malpractice suits, said other states could duplicate California's regulations.
Allen, who also manages a $539 billion budget of Health and Human Services, the fifth largest budget in the world, noted, "We are aware that our medical system in America is badly in need of medical reform."
Estimates show the country would save $78 billion a year if reasonable non-economic damages were instituted in malpractice insurance cases. "This approach will reduce healthcare costs and increase healthcare availability," he said.
"What happened in California can happen in other states. If you galvanise and strategise, it can be done," said Brown, who was the first governor to appoint an Indian American, attorney Shan Thevar, to the State Medical Board and later, another Indian American physician to the same board.