The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic medical organization in the US with over 80,000 members, has reached out to Covid-battered India by arranging oxygen concentrators, facilitating tele-consultations and giving a call for generous donations.

As India was engaged in a grim battle against Covid, which has already claimed close to 198,000 lives, AAPI held a brainstorming session with hundreds of its members on how best it could extend professional services to patients in India.

AAPI president Sudhakar Jonnalgadda said they have placed orders for securing and delivering 200 units of oxygen concentrators, each costing USD 500.

 “Each oxygen concentrator can save several lives in India. The Indian Embassy and Consulates have been extremely helpful, and will assist in the rapid shipping and customs regulations of these lifesaving units to be delivered direct to hospitals in India with the help of  SEWA  International,,’ said Jonnalgadda.

He urged AAPI members and the general public to step up and donate generously.

AAPI has decided to form small groups of physicians who would work with Indian physicians in their native state and treat patients through tele-consultation.

The organization has prepared a Google sheet listing its volunteers, and identified telehealth platforms to provide free service to patients. The platforms are EglobalDoctors.com; http://Mdtok.com; and Click2clinic.com.

In addition, with the purpose of educating its members and their counterparts in India, AAPI is organizing educational webinars with small group of doctors on zoom.