CHICAGO, IL (TIP):  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.

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