India-UK Summit Boosts Collaboration on Women's Health Research

By: WE staff | Friday, 31 January 2025

The first India-UK Research Partnership Meet, organized by Fernandez Hospital Education and Research Foundation (FHERF) in collaboration with the University of Liverpool, took place at Fernandez Stork Home in Hyderabad on Thursday. It marked a major step in furthering research and educational ties between India and the UK. The partnership brought together policy-makers, leading researchers, clinicians, and global organizations to promote collaboration aimed at advancing women's health.

The foundation primarily discussed and highlighted the importance of evidence-based approaches in addressing maternal and child health challenges.

Shakila Thangaratinam, Professor of Women’s Health and India Lead at the University of Liverpool, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to improve health outcomes. She is a one of the collaborators with the World Health Organization

Representatives from the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments, UNICEF, and prominent higher education institutions attended the event.

Indie Kaur, Director of Midwifery at Fernandez Foundation, highlighted the crucial role of midwife-led care models in providing safe, respectful, and high-quality maternity care.

Gareth Owen, Deputy British High Commissioner to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, emphasized           the UK’s dedication to strengthening meaningful research collaborations with India. “The UK and India have a long-standing history of academic and healthcare collaborations. This partnership in women’s health research reflects our shared commitment to enhancing maternal and newborn care through innovation, evidence-based policy, and education,” he said.

Other attendees included Dr. Evita Fernandez, Chairperson and MD of Fernandez Foundation, Zelalem Birhanu Taffesse, Chief of Field Office at UNICEF (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka & Telangana), Dr. Anthony Vipin Das, Chairperson of Fernandez Innovations Forum, Dr. Anil Kumar, Additional Director, Maternal & Child Health, Government of Andhra Pradesh, and Dr. Sumitra, Programmed Officer, Maternal & Child Health, Government of Telangana.

The collaboration of UK-India Research Partnership Meet brought together experts and key stakeholders to promote future collaborations, funding opportunities, and knowledge sharing, all focused on enhancing women’s healthcare outcomes in India and beyond.