Hyderabad, February 27, 2024: Minister for Health and Mental Health, Amber-Jade Sanderson embarked on a mission to India to strengthen WA-India links across the healthcare, medical, and life sciences sectors. Leading a health skilling and business delegation, the Minister has concluded her highly productive mission to Hyderabad, spanning from February 25 to February 27, 2024. The delegation actively participated in numerous engagements, featuring representatives from industries including health and life sciences, medical technology, digital health, and medical device companies, biotech, and pharmaceutical companies.
Attracting healthcare workers is a key priority for the Western Australia Government, with forecasts predicting WA will need an additional 5,000 FTE doctors and nurses by 2033. During the mission, Minister Sanderson successfully promoted employment opportunities in Western Australia’s healthcare sector, with a specific focus on professions including nurses, doctors, and aged care workers. She held crucial meetings with esteemed dignitaries, including Hon. Damodar Raja Rajanarasimha, Minister of Health, Medical & Family Welfare, Science and Technology, to foster discussions on collaboration and investment in healthcare.
The Health Skilling Symposium, held in collaboration with Rainbow Hospital and Telangana Overseas Manpower Company (TOMCOM), facilitated meaningful discussions and initiatives aimed at enhancing skills and capacity-building efforts in the healthcare domain. Minister Sanderson’s participation at BioAsia 2024 provided a platform to showcase Western Australia’s capabilities in health and life sciences, fostering connections and exploring potential collaborations.
During the mission, Minister Sanderson held important meetings with distinguished figures including Hon. Sri Damodar Rajanarasimha, Minister for Health, Medical & Family Welfare, Science and Technology, Telangana and bilateral meetings with Hon. Anumula Revanth Reddy, Chief Minister, Telangana, and Hon. Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications; Industries & Commerce and Legislative Affairs, Government of Telangana, strengthened ties and identified areas for mutual cooperation in healthcare.
Minister Sanderson highlighted Western Australia’s vibrant healthcare ecosystem, showcasing advancements in healthcare, research, and development, and fostering interest in potential investments. She reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting skilled migrant workers through initiatives like the Skilled Migrant Job Connect Program. The Western Australian Premier’s University Scholarship was showcased to support students pursuing healthcare-related courses, further bolstering the skilled workforce in the region.
Minister Sanderson was also delighted to announce the signing of a collaboration agreement between ECU and Charkos Global, aimed at facilitating the education and migration of nurses. The partnership will facilitate supporting Indian nurses through transition courses at ECU including the award-winning International Adaptation Program (winner of AAUT INTERNATIONAL Teaching Excellence Award in 2022). ECU will also partner with Charkos global to accredit specialist post graduate courses for nurses in India working in pediatrics, mental health and oncology nursing. We expect the first Indian nurses to come to ECU in August this year.
A significant highlight of the mission was Minister Sanderson’s keynote address at the 21st Bio Asia 2024 Summit, a premier life-sciences and healthcare forum in Asia where innovation, data and artificial intelligence converge to redefine possibilities. This two-day conference served as a catalyst in furthering the ties between Western Australia and India. At this event, Western Australia partnered with Bio Asia as “Global Partner” which allowed us to showcase Western Australia’s complementarity with the state of Telangana in the sectors of Healthcare and Life Sciences.
Reflecting on the engagements in Hyderabad, Minister Sanderson remarked, “Through our mission to Hyderabad, we’ve forged invaluable connections and laid the groundwork for transformative collaborations between Western Australia and India. Our shared commitment to advancing medical innovation and fostering skilled workforce exchange lays a solid foundation for addressing healthcare challenges and driving economic prosperity. I’m immensely proud of the outcomes achieved and look forward to the continued growth and prosperity that these partnerships will bring.”
