Kochi: The 21st National Conference of the Obesity Surgery Society of India (OSSICON 2024) commenced at VPS Lakeshore Hospital and Le Meridien Kochi yesterday. The conference will continue until the 10th of February. This first-of-its-kind event in Kerala is being organized by the Minimally Invasive Surgery Department at VPS Lakeshore Hospital, Keyhole Clinic, Verwandeln Institute, and ASI Kerala Chapter.

OSSICON 2024 was inaugurated by Dr. Gerhard Prager, President of IFSO (International Federation of Surgeons for Obesity and Metabolic Surgery). Dr. R Padmakumar, Organizing Chairman, welcomed the gathering. Dr. Praveen Raj, President of OSSI, delivered the presidential address. Mr. S.K Abdullah, Managing Director of VPS Lakeshore Hospital, offered facilitations, and Dr. Madhukar Pai, Organizing Secretary, delivered the vote of thanks.

The international keynote address on the latest developments in the field of obesity was delivered yesterday by Dr. Aureo De Pauls, the Doyen of Metabolic Surgery from Brazil; Dr. Marina Kurian, President of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery; and Dr. James Byren, President of the British Obesity and Metabolic Society.

A pre-conference meeting of surgeons and hands-on training conducted successfully at VPS Lakeshore Hospital on 7th. The conference and seminar being conducted on various scientific programs at Le Meridien Convention Center on upcoming days, informed Ms. Premna Subin, Conference Manager.

The mega conference, with participation from around 300 surgeons from various parts of India and various other countries, will witness more than 150 deliberations over the four days.

The Conference aims to update the recent advances in the field of Obesity treatment like medical management, Intragastric balloon, Obesity and Metabolic Surgery; so that the patients affected with Obesity and associated illness will be highly benefited.