Association of Indian Pharmacists in America celebrates Annual Banquet and Business Expo

Chicago IL: Harish Bhatt, President of the Association of Indian Pharmacists, Board of Trustees and Volunteers of America (AIPHA), organized an exciting Annual Banquet and Business Expo on Sunday, November 11, 2017 at the Meadows Club, 2950 W Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, IL to commemorate annual business network opportunities, Diwali and the holiday season with members and their families. The program was a sold out event attended by many dignitaries.

The evening started with a social hour featuring some tasty appetizers and premium drinks. Masters of Ceremonies for the occasion, Mr. Tushar Mehta, kicked off the program by welcoming everyone to the gala.

To encourage NRI entrepreneurs to set up new manufacturing plants in India, Consul General Mr. Debandhu Bhati explained that “Annual growth of the industry by an average of 15% per year to reach twenty billion to fifty five billion dollar industry from the span of 2020 to 2030, producing world class pharmaceuticals products dwarfs with average of 5% growth of other non-pharmaceutical industries. This phenomenal growth will contribute towards significant contributor to Prime-minister Narendra Modi's ‘Made by India’ goal. Now, due to availability of 100% approval of FDA for production of medical devices in India”

Rupesh Manek, AIPHA Executive Director and NIPA board member, encouraged all pharmacists in Illinois get involved and become members of National Indian Pharmacist Pharmacist Association (NIPA). He congratulated AIPHA for exemplary work in organizing such a breathtaking social evening . Elaborating the mission of NIPA, he indicated that NIPA is dedicated to the construction of networking opportunities and the promotion of our cultural heritage for pharmacists of Indian origins in the United States of America by ways of interaction through a common forum. The national Indian association is committed to supporting AlPHA in all of their struggles. He congratulated Harish Bhatt and team for this wonderfully planned evening, and the entire pharmacist community practicing in Illinois under some of the hardest times that have been experienced. He informed attendees that NIPA membership now spans over 19 states in the continental United States of America, and looks forward to its presence in all states of the country, as well as increased involvement from Illinois members.

Harish Bhatt, Lifelong President of the Association of Indian Pharmacists took the stage. Welcoming everyone, he elaborated past achievements of AIPHA along with future challenges and goals requiring co-operation of each and every members. We are thrilled to reflect tonight on a year of hard work and accomplishments, all of which would be impossible without the input and encouragement provided by our peers and partners who join us tonight. We are honored by your support and grateful for the impact you have had- giving us strength to face endeavors with drive to survive.

I would like to thank Mr Bhati who is General Counsel from Consulate of India. Nikki Budzinski who is a senior advisor to next Governor of State of Illinois JB Pritzker. Mine and our associations good friends Marcus Evans and Larry Walsh Jr and our own Raja Krishnamurti ,Honarable congressman from 8th district I would like to at this time congratulate Illinois’ Department of Professional Regulation; this summer, they effortlessly
conceptualized and put into practice new pharmacy counseling rules proven beneficial to the pharmacy/patient relationship. As health care providers, we are dedicated to maintaining such deservedly high standards of integrity, all the while assuring patient care is our number one priority. This act solidifies the trust our patients deserve, and sets a great example for the entire nation. Working with the objective to set a standard directly impacts the time we have as pharmacists to ensure our patients receive undivided attention, as their health is quite literally in our hands.

Over-regulation generates a setback .which threatens the livelihood of these fundamentals.. Insurance companies have been given freedom to create regulations outside of already existing state-level requirements, manufacturing a new fleet of limitations. Conflicting regulations create an environment of improper and ineffective information among all participants of the healthcare ecosystem.
Patients are forced to make a decision: either leave their established care team and receive copay incentives, or stay with the care they trust and be penalized. The playing field is notably imbalanced; small businesses lose
patients they have grown to take care of for years to corporate pharmacies’ closed-door networking.

We are fighting many battles to simply survive. He congratulated the few brave pharmacists who have filed a lawsuit against insurance companies, such as Prime Therapeutics, for their unfair practices and contact cancelations, and we are eagerly awaiting the outcome. We are not getting paid for the cost of drugs, let alone the fees, and are prepared to fight this battle.

Together, we defeated an ill-conceived plan from the City Council of Chicago to limit filling only 10 prescriptions per hour. This battle is still not over. One silver lining was the Federal guideline to increase Medicaid professional fees, and the State of Illinois is one of 5 states still fighting the increase. Our lobbyist Jacob Miller is working diligently with IPHA to pass PBM fairness bill; this is the first time it seems like it may actually pass. Our nation was founded with ideals of opportunity, and fought during its infancy to define what makes these opportunities capable of greatness without challenging the size of one’s base. We must not encourage those with the broadest of shoulders to allow the weight of their inherent privilege to sit as a burden on our supple yet durable frame. We have proven that as a group we are capable of all-encompassing and progressive change across the spectrum of small business and healthcare alike.

Another year of survival makes it clear that with time, resilience put forth by individuals and teams within our association have made it possible for us to gather here in celebration tonight. As a collaborative, we stand proud with the grit of our purpose, and recognize that the attributes of such do serve as inspiration to act in the face of opposition repeatedly – for years to come. Though time has given us strength, it will not stand down on its universal reputation of being finite. Because of this, we have to motivate ourselves to be ready at the challenge. Now, we must come together and notice the second hand ticking. We can either push forward together or succumb to defeat at the end of our moment. He thanked everyone for their attendance, and encouraged everyone to join him in what became a memorable evening.

Top shelf cash bar & delicious gourmet dinner was prepared and served by the Chefs and staff of the Meadows Club. The program concluded with some great memories of an evening which was educational, fun and entertainment by Babra and party.

Sponsors: Amneal, Dick Drugs, HD Smith, McKesson, Cardinal Health Smith Drugs, DAA, Micro Merchant, TCGRX, IPC, Langerman

Event Planner: Jankhana Desai and Malvika Dharia

Raffle Tickets and Prize: 4 prices of $25 Gift cards, Google home mini, Logitech Harmony Smart control, Apple watch, 50 inch 4k HD TV, 3 tickets to Bears football game, 1 ounce pure gold bar.

Executive Board: President: Harish Bhatt Vice President Ambalal Patel Secretary Mahendra Patel Joint Secretary Manu Patel Treasure Tushar Mehta Joint Treasure Snehal Bhavsar Executive Director Rupesh Manak

About The Association of Indian Pharmacists in America (AIPHA):
The AIPHA Annual Banquet and Business Expo offers a platform in which members can network amongst themselves, as well as giving them an opportunity to meet and greet with the decision makers that influence change. The Association of Indian Pharmacists of America is an organization dedicated to increasing cultural awareness and promoting diversity through various pharmaceutical services, promotional, and social events. The AIPHA Parent Chapter has shown its continual support by involving pharmacy students in their monthly board meetings, inviting students to be a part of their annual Holiday Party, helping students reach their career goals, providing scholarships, and of course, offering guidance and support. The members of the AIPHA Parent Chapter are role models for the student pharmacists and their presence in our university chapters has been extremely encouraging. The national organization of the Association of Indian Pharmacists in America (AIPHA) was founded in 1985 by 20 members. Today, there are over 453 members. The student chapter of AIPHA at the University of Illinois-College of Pharmacy was established in 1996 with the same drive and initiative that was shown in 1985. The student chapter of AIPHA has established specific objectives that need to be fulfilled year in and year out. The most important, is to promote the representation of Indo-American practicing pharmacists and student pharmacists in various professional and socio-cultural activities.

Harish Bhatt, President of the Association of Indian Pharmacists

Harish Bhatt, President AIPHA with Babra and party