Dignitaries on the Dias, Past Presidents – Dr. Ashok Rajgopal, Dr. Arun Mullaji, Dr.Rami Sorial, my colleagues Dr. Bharat Mody, Dr. Aree Tanavalee, Dr. Vasan Sinnadurai, also my father Dr. K.H. Sancheti, all the international and national faculty, esteemed delegates and all our sponsors, it is with great pleasure that I Welcome you all to APAS 2017, Chennai. It’s a privilege and honour to be standing here as the President of APAS and addressing this elite gathering.
I am really glad to announce that we have received 650+ registrations. We also had an overwhelming response for the free papers so much so that we received more than 100 papers out of which 40 were selected. Due to the huge response we had to book 2 halls to accommodate the enthusiastic response. India has embarked on a journey of healthcare transformation – specially in the field of hip and knee replacements. Over the past 17 years we have seen unprecedented growth.
In India over a decade ago less than 40,000 hip and knee replacements were being performed. In 2017, these numbers have crossed 2,50,000 joints out of which majority are knee. We are proud that we also have our own joint registry maintained by the Indian Hip and Knee (ISHKS).
Growth over the next decade will be closely linked to policies, reform and progress that we make in Arthroplasty and just yesterday it has been announced capping of the knee implants. Everybody is still recovering from the impact it’s going to cause and like the GST, we are not sure about its long term repercussions. Today, only there is a meeting of the NPPA to decide the further course of action.
However, as long as the benefits are passed onto the patient it will be good. Real ones who are going to be affected are the companies and very soon we will not probably be able to see such elaborate conferences anymore since the bottom-line for the companies will drop significantly.
ASIA PACIFIC ARTHROPLASTY SOCIETY INCORPORATED as an organization was a brainchild of a group of 20 surgeons, catering to the arthroplasty society in the Asia Pacific region, launched 18 years back. I took over as the president of this August society in the year 2016 at Penang, Malaysia. It is now my responsibility to take this society to the next level.
We at the APAS want to showcase the talent of Asia Pacific region to the rest of the world. The presidents will change, year on year. My Endeavour is to make APAS a self-sustaining body which will continue to grow because of the value it is adding to the Arthroplasty surgeons in the Asia pacific region.
We have vibrant and very talented surgeons who are visionaries, I propose to revamp the executive committee every year to get in this fresh group of people who will steer APAS towards the pinnacle that we so desire.
After taking over as the president in 2016 in Penang, my vision has been to help the development of upcoming surgeon to full fleshed independent plastic surgeon. For this to happen, we need to develop a learning system. It is my duty as President to help the upcoming and the young surgeons by means of education for making them independent Arthroplasty surgeons.
We at APAS promise to strive to do the best on our part to impart, teach, inculcate and provide a platform to all wanting to take this specialty to the next level. Having said that it’s our endeavor to open newer horizons and paths to have a road charted out for the Asia Pacific region to showcase our talent and be at par or probably even better than our western counterparts.
For this, proper learning is important and learning is a process which involves
I am sure one day will come when preservation techniques will be more popular. I always say that 3R’s are important
In the future I can see more biologics solutions being used to treat knee arthritis. Currently, we may be far away from this APAS we will adapt to the newer trends being introduced. End of the day our patient is important and whatever it takes to cure him of his problem either by replacement or otherwise me should do it.
I foresee genetic engineering and biologics coming big way in the future. At this juncture, I thank all the past presidents Dr. Rami Sorial, Dr. Ashok Rajgopal, Dr. Arjun Mullaji, Dr. Chung form the backbone of any successful conference, who have laid this successful foundation and have guided us in this direction for the development of our society to the highest peak.
Last but not the least I would like to thank my mother and my father Dr. K.H. Sancheti who has been the lighthouse for me.
Wish to thank Archana, my wife and my children for bearing with me and standing by my side. Also I would like to thank Dr. Kailash Patil, Dr. Sunny Gugle, the hospital team my staff for bearing a strong support and pillar in my success.
Wish to thanks all of you for the unstinted support and the love you have given me and solicit the same for the future years to come.
It is not the team with the best players that win, I t is the players with the best team….. "Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success."
Long Live APAS
Thanks you very much.
Dr. Parag Sancheti
President, APAS
Asia Pacific Arthroplasty Society Incorporated
