World experts on diabetes at a developed nation (Rochester, Minnesota, USA) spoke to diabetes patients in Trivandrum, Kerala, South, India in an online video conferencing event. The event was conducted just for health education of the masses on a 100% non-profitable basis.

This programme is a perfect example of how an intercontinental event can be organised with minimal resources in a developing nation and how to facilitate the health care requirements utilising the expertise of a developed nation like USA. The advises and comments from world experts were received by patients in India whole heartedly with due respect and regard.

Expensive facilities like ISDN/ satellite services were not used. A high speed (1.4Mbps) cable internet (charter in USA and Asianet in India) connection were used at either ends. Yahoo messenger served as the free ware for 3 hour trouble free, crystal clear , broadcast of both audio and video . Apart from ordinary web cams, Sony DCR TRV 19 handy camera was used in USA for web casting of 10 minutes of a recorded video** to India in between the programme.

The time at Rochester was 6.45 am and in India 5.15 pm. The Health Minister of Kerala P.Sankaran, inaugurated the event which was seen and heard in Rochester live.

The event was organised by Indian Institute of Diabetes (IID) and All Kerala Diabetes Patients Association (AKDPA).
India has the maximum number of diabetes patients now in the world. In India the southern state of Kerala, tops the list. Kerala is unique in the country to have 100% literacy and longest longevity of up to 74 years. Diabetes and its complications have become a major concern in this part of the country.

Health education is the key for the success in the treatment of diabetes, since patient himself should be made aware of the advantages of self monitoring and regular modification of medications.

Rajmohan, (President, AKDPA and CMD Hindusthan Latex), Dr.Ekbal (Kerala University-Vice Chancellor), Dr.Rajasekharan Nair (Neurologist),Radhakrishnan Nair IPS (Asianet) were at India on the dias. Dr.MV Pillai world renowned Physician from India working in USA participated in the inaugural ceremony on line from USA.

More than 120 patients with diabetes took part in India. Of these more than 20 patients got an opportunity to directly ask questions to experts in USA and listen to them.

They asked several questions to Endocrinologists in USA. Translations to local language Malayalam was done by coordinator in USA, as and when required.

The whole event was made possible by two doctors in India who are also computer wizards. Dr.Jothydev Kesavadev, MD (IID) and Dr.Sameer, MBBS (mednet Kerala). Dr.Jothydev is now in USA at Mayo Clinic, Rochester and he coordinated the event from USA.

The experts in the panel in USA include:

1. Dr.Robert Rizza, MD** (Vice-President American Diabetes Association, and Consultant Mayo Clinic, USA),
2. Dr.Steven Smith, MD (Consultant in Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic and Chair Council on Clinical Endocrinology, Health Care Delivery & Public Health,American Diabetes Association )
3. Dr.Sreekumaran Nair ** (Chair- World India Diabetes Foundation, Consultant in Endocrinology and Director-GCRC, Mayo Clinic)
3. Dr.Yogish Kudva (Consultant in Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic and Assistant Professor of Medicine - Mayo Medical School )
4. Dr.Laura Greenlund, Endocrinology Fellow, Mayo Clinic
5. Laura Odel (Pharmacist in charge of ambulatory care and diabetes patient education at Mayo)
6. Jothydev Kesavadev , Endocrinology Fellow, Mayo Clinic 
    (co ordinator of this on line programme and IID official in USA)

Dr.Sameer and Jose Francis coordinated the event from India.
It is foreseen that this effective and inexpensive online patient health education program will evolve as a model in future for meaningful communication between patients and doctors across the globe.

Dr.Jothydev Kesavadev
Dr.Sameer Badarudeen