As a part of Australian Business Week in India (ABWI) 2015, the 19 member Australian Health and Life Sciences delegation along with India's leading healthcare and pharma companies will try to understand how Australia and India can collaborate on new drug development, solutions and innovation in Tropical Medicine. 

The event theme is Life Sciences and Tropical Medicine - Partnership Opportunities in New Drug Development and Delivery and will be held on January 12, 2015 at New Delhi.

The themes for discussions include the ones on multi-shore clinical trials and tapping into Australian infrastructure to progress novel drug development; addressing India's need for an increased focus on R&D in pharma and achieving this through international collaborations and the ways how Australia can assist India in Drug discovery & development.

Besides that the health roundtable on India's Healthcare, Biotechnology and Healthcare agenda is being held too at New Delhi on January, 13. The 25 member Australian healthcare and Life sciences delegation along with senior officials from the Health department from the Government of India. Aged care is emerging as an important sector in India, with models of delivery being trialled ranging from home care to medically assisted living. India's current healthcare expenditure is around five per cent of national GDP, of which one per cent is funded by the Indian Government.

The interactive session with feature a discussion with the Indian government healthcare representatives to discuss about India's healthcare, biotechnology and medical research agenda. The Australian Life Sciences & Tropical Medicine delegation comprises of Australian providers of training & skill development in healthcare, especially in aged care & assisted living; Manufacturers of Bio medical products; Medical devices; Research agencies involved in - Vaccines & Oncology; Drug Discovery firms; and clinical trials providers.

Among the prominent speakers are Mr Andrew John Robb, minister for trade and investment, Australia; Mr Jagat Prakash Nadda, minister for Health and family welfare, government of India; Dr Vishwa Mohan Katoch, secretary, department of health research, ministry of health and family welfare, and director general, Indian Council of Medical Research; Dr Arun K. Panda, additional secretary (Health), Department of Health; Ms Nicola Watkinson, Senior Trade Commissioner, Australian High Commission.