Independent expert body stages second annual meeting
In line with what is rapidly becoming the new normal, the second Asia Pacific Consortium of Osteoporosis (APCO) Members’ annual meeting was held ‘virtually’ on Saturday, May 30, 2020 between 4:00 – 6:00pm SG time.
The meeting was attended by 21 of APCO’s 39-strong membership spanning 19 countries and regions throughout Asia Pacific, as well as by the President, and the Committees Coordinator for the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF).
The participants discussed APCO’s significant achievements over the past year, including developments and updates to its communications campaign and collateral, digital strategy, Strategic Plan and Delphi analysis designed to inform the development of the “APCO Framework”.
The highly productive and stimulating meeting saw all members actively contributing to the discussions.
International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) President, Professor Cyrus Cooper, who attended the meeting, reflected on the consortium’s evolution to date and stated “It is a pleasure to see the emergence of this vibrant, independent body of global experts in osteoporosis and musculoskeletal disease. We wholeheartedly support their union in the Asia Pacific Consortium on Osteoporosis, and look forward to working with the consortium on a range of our regionally based international programmes, focusing on shared clinical guidelines and clinical care pathways.”
Professor Ambrish Mithal, Chairman and Head, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Max HealthCare, New Delhi, India, and APCO member, similarly reflecting on the pivotal role to be played by the consortium within the context of the world’s fastest ageing region said, “Given, the Asia Pacific region is fast becoming the hub of fragility fractures, APCO is a much-needed initiative. Setting standards for diagnosis and clinical care across the region, will lead to improved quality of care, and potentially, influence policy in various countries. It is a pleasure to be part of this important group,”.
Over the past year, APCO has gained substantial ground by:
- Producing a plethora of communications collateral;
- Launching a website and LinkedIn channel;
- Formulating a Strategic Plan;
- Completing a 5IQ comparative analysis of 18 Asia Pacific clinical guidelines, that is set to inform the development of The Framework (minimum clinical standards for the screening, diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in groups at high risk of fracture);
- Authoring an opinion piece, soon to be published in Osteoporosis International; and
- Securing selection for a conjoint APCO-APFFA (Asia Pacific Fragility Fracture Alliance) non-sponsored symposia at the upcoming, virtual WCO-IOF-ESCEO 2020 Congress in Barcelona in August 2020.
APCO Executive Committee Chair, Senior Consultant Endocrinologist and Director of the Osteoporosis and Bone Metabolism Unit at Singapore General Hospital, Dr. Manju Chandran, closed the meeting by reinforcing the consortium’s steadfast commitment to the optimal management of osteoporosis within the context of the current pandemic facing the world’s most populated and fastest growing region.
“An inevitable fall-out from the aftermath of COVID-19 that has brought immeasurable changes to how we live and work, is also the impact on chronic disease management. APCO nonetheless, remains committed to promoting the cause of bone health in the Asia Pacific region. Our members have learnt to roll with the punches, and will continue to work together through these trying times, to find solutions to the problems facing osteoporosis management in this part of the world, and beyond,” she stated.
To learn more about APCO, contact the APCO Secretariat at secretariat@apcobonehealth.org and follow us on LinkedIn – asia-pacific-consortium-on-osteoporosis.
