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Drs Singhal, and Kole bag top seats at international organisations

BAPIO Training Academy executive committee board members Prof Dr Parag Singhal and Prof Dr. Tamorish Kole bag top seats at international organisations, reports Rahul Laud

Herbalife, a health and wellness company and community, announced recently the appointment of Dr. Prof Parag Singhal, Chief Executive at the BAPIO Training Academy, a consultant physician, and endocrinologist to its global Nutrition Advisory Board, representing India.

Singhal is a consultant physician and endocrinologist currently practicing in the United Kingdom at the Nuffield Health Taunton Hospital Waterside Suite and The Chesterfield Clinic, Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital. As a Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board Member, he will support the company’s nutrition advisory, training, and education of associates, and provide advanced diet and nutrition insights to Herbalife’s sponsored athletes and teams.

Singhal said, “I am honored to join Herbalife as part of the Nutrition Advisory Board. With my metabolic medicine expertise and strong ties to the Indian healthcare community over the years, I am excited to contribute to Herbalife’s mission of promoting health and wellness through high-quality nutrition. I am looking forward to developing innovative nutritional solutions that cater to the unique needs of the Indian population, ensuring that we positively impact the health and well-being of our community.”

Ajay Khanna, Managing Director of Herbalife India said, “We are excited to welcome Dr. Parag Singhal to our Nutrition Advisory Board. As India emerges as a leading global market, our dedication to transforming lives through better health and wellness grows stronger. With Dr. Parag Singhal’s expertise, we are confident that Herbalife will continue to set new benchmarks in nutritional excellence.”

Prof (Dr) Tamorish Kole

Meanwhile in another development, Dr Tamorish Kole, Executive Committee Member at BAPIO Training Academy who serves as a Visiting Professor at the University of South Wales in the UK,  and currently working as a Chief Functionary and Board Member of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of India, a subsidiary of American Heart Association (AHA) has assumed the role of Chair of the Clinical Practice Committee (CPC) of the International Federation for Emergency Medicine (IFEM), during the ICEM 2024 conference in Taipei.

The CPC comprises 13 Special Interest Groups, each dedicated to their respective areas of expertise. Tamorish and his committee are devoted to enhancing the educational resources available to all healthcare professionals aspiring to advance their emergency care practices.

Prof Kole is the past President of the Asian Society for Emergency Medicine & immediate past Chair of the Disaster Medicine Special Interest Group of the International Federation for Emergency Medicine. Dr. Kole is also an alumnus of The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program) for the year 2013 in Crisis and Disaster Management.

With the motto of inspiring excellence and innovating futures and a vision of training healthcare professionals to become clinicians and leaders to help deliver equitable and cost-effective care for the global sustainability of healthcare systems the BAPIO Training Academy (BTA) is keen on working with fellow international professionals to inspire them to be a leader and efficient clinicians. BTA aims to facilitate a two-way flow of knowledge and expertise between overseas colleagues and the UK talent pool. The vast talent pool of BTA trainers is naturally sensitive to the developmental needs of doctors from the Indian subcontinent.

ALSO READ: Rath Yatra in Manchester attracts large audiences

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Health India News UK News

BTA draws up plans to address GPs shortage in the UK

The Practices across the country are experiencing significant difficulties with declining General Practitioner (GP) numbers, and problems with recruitment.

To mitigate the crisis in primary health care that is facing huge pressures with current rising demand exceeding resources the BAPIO Training Academy (BTA) UK has drawn up innovative plans to address the current crisis of GP shortage in the UK.

It is reported that the Practices across the country are experiencing significant difficulties with declining General Practitioner (GP) numbers, and problems with recruitment. According to Prof Parag Singhal, the Chief Executive of the BTA, “The overall number of GPs has seen little growth since 2015, with the number of GP partners declining significantly over that time.” In February 2020 the Government announced a Manifesto target of 6000 additional doctors working in primary care by 2024. Although recruitment to GP training posts in England has increased to 4000 trainees in 2022, this will take 3 to 4 years to produce qualified doctors and will still not be enough to achieve the 6000 targets, Prof Singhal pointed out. 

Dr Prof Parag Singhal, Executive Director, BTA UK

The BTA has proposed to extend the INDO UK Fellowship Programme (Fast Track) programme to family physicians who have qualified in India and for them to join a primary care fellowship in England to help address the shortages faced in the GP workforce, Prof Singhal pointed out.

The NHS has always relied on non-UK qualified health workers to help strengthen its workforce and this continues to be the case. Singhal explained that “Over half of GP trainees recruited in recent years have been International Medical Graduates. However, recruiting qualified family doctors from abroad has been more problematic.”

Currently there exists the International Induction Programme (IIP) which provides a supported pathway for overseas qualified GPs who have never previously worked in NHS General Practice in the UK.  During the Covid pandemic emergency legislation was introduced which has allowed doctors to provide primary care services without needing to be on the GP register of the GMC, nor on the MPL as long as they are on the GMC register with a license to practise and are linked to a designated body with a Responsible Officer. As a result this has raised the possibility that family doctors who have qualified abroad may be able to be sponsored and facilitated to work in primary care without having to be on the GMC GP register or the MPL, explained Prof Singhal.

Whilst India does not have a fully matured Primary Care infrastructure, there exists a reasonably robust Family Practice Training Programme which lasts for 3 years and leads to the recognised qualification of Diplomate of National Board (DNB) in Family Medicine thus Doctors in The Family Practice Training in India can be easily roped into the UK mainstream medical system.

Given BTA’s success in developing a fellowship programme for secondary care doctors, a similar fellowship is being proposed for these postgraduate doctors qualified as Family Physicians. Prof Singhal stated that, “Following their DNB in Family Medicine qualification, they will be enrolled in a further 3 to 6 months of training in primary care in selected centres in India. They will also be provided simulation training to prepare them for working in a UK general practice setting.  This will be provided jointly by BTA and UK based Primary Care organisation partners. This enables these doctors to develop the capabilities required by the GMC for sponsorship. BTA will be the sponsoring authority.” Prof Nair elaborated that once they have achieved sponsorship, candidates will go through a recruitment process and be appointed and employed by a local NHS Foundation Trust or a Primary care Organisation” He added, “Doctors will need to pass any language requirements and also will require a Health and Care Worker visa. On arrival they will be supported with travel and accommodation costs. The fellowship will entail them working in Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) services in Secondary care, Community Hubs in Primary care, and GP surgeries either on a rotational basis or as a portfolio across the working week.  “The key aspect of this fellowship will be working at the primary-secondary care interface and providing resources at a system level to address the current pressures faced by both.  Supervision in GP surgeries will be provided by GPs and within acute trusts by the relevant consultants.”  There will also be an educational component with doctors enrolled onto a postgraduate course provided by a Local Educational Provider and access to CPD activities, he added.

“In a nutshell,” Prof Vijay Nair, GP and Former Associate Dean HEE said, “The BTA proposal is in partnership with the NHS and GMC aims to provide a postgraduate fellowship for physicians from India who have the qualification of DNB in family practice. These family physicians will be employed across primary and secondary care and also have the opportunity to achieve further postgraduate qualifications.”

Doctors from India who may wish to pursue their careers in the UK may do so whilst others will return and apply the skills and experience gained on this programme.

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-Top News London News UK News

BAPIO in UK gears up to save NHS; seeks educational ties with India

The British Association of Physicians of Indian origin (BAPIO) and BAPIO Training Academy (BTA) UK have drawn up plans to forge tie-ups between Indian hospitals and UK based medical education Universities, Rahul Laud reports

The latest two tie ups and signing of MoUs in the last two months- September-November 2022 between British Association of Physicians of Indian origin (BAPIO) and BAPIO Training Academy (BTA) UK and Bangalore hospitals – Gleneagles and Vydehi Super speciality (formerly Mallya hospital) demonstrates the fact that the vast Indian medical community that serves the NHS in the UK has been an active and conscientious supporter of the NHS system. They have cherished the values of top class quality patient care in the UK. The tie ups are with the aim of developing and providing world-class training and exchange programs for doctors and nurses in India to meet the growing demands of effective and safe delivery of emergencies.

Extreme left Chandru Iyer, Deputy High Commissioner , UK in Bangalore with BAPIO and hospital teams.

BAPIO with its Education Academy in the UK has actively geared up its resources to mitigate the current crisis faced by the NHS system. Given an Estimated lack of 12,000 doctors and 50,000 nurses in the UK, the BAPIO is seeking tie-ups with leading hospitals in India and engage in training and ensure trained professionals are recruited in both the countries.

Chandru Iyer, as the Deputy High Commissioner UK in Bangalore in his tweet said, “Such tie ups will enhance collaborative training avenues for Indian medical students and professionals in the UK.” It has been BAPIO’S strategy to promote professional & clinical excellence. Prof Parag Singhal, Executive Director- BTA and National Secretary –BAPIO explained, “This training initiative is designed specially to help International doctors gain experience at core and higher levels in UK hospitals.” The BTA Indo-UK Training Programme has been developed in partnership with University of South Wales and Kingsway Hospitals.

The Indo-UK Training Programmes organised by Prof Parag Singhal under the auspices of Bapio Training Academy has been devised to assist Indian doctors seeking higher qualification and Training and as aspiring career in medicine in India and help realising the dream of Ayushman Bharat.

Prof Dr Parag Singhal

An Advanced Specialty Training Program is designed by providing structured clinical training to candidates in Indian Institutions/Hospitals for 2 years and 2 years in the U.K. supported by enrollment in MBA in Healthcare leadership from UK University.

Singhal elaborated that the purpose is, “To train highly skilled Indian physicians in Family and General Medicine, Paediatrics, Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine and Leadership and Research in order to manage, lead and develop especially Family and General Medicine in India, need of the hour in India. Family and General Medicine is the backbone of any robust health service.”

Outlining the Scheme, Singhal elaborated, “During the 2 years, the trainees will work at Indian Hospitals / Institutes (chosen sites) with local trainers and with external training from U.K. faculty. Following completion of training in India, these trainees will receive further 2 years training in the U.K. and will complete all the necessary exams and milestones.”

BTA is the lead organization for this programme and is the link between India and UK. BTA will be responsible for creating a UK visiting faculty, coordinating the faculty visits, induction and mentoring. This unique and innovative programme is a great example of living bridge between U.K. and India and benefits all with India getting trained workforce to help with Ayushman Bharat, U.K. securing a pipeline of good quality doctors to address their workforce crisis.

India is now producing over 82,000 medical graduates every year through its network of 576 medical colleges and the Indian Government has shown keen commitment to reforms in medical profession and education by a series of initiatives as National Health Agency (Ayushman Bharat) & National Medical Commission (NMC), New AIIMS etc. in the health sector.

“However, there are limited numbers of Post Graduate training positions and more so for positions that offer a high level of training. Indian medical schools use similar textbooks and curriculum to the UK, which means knowledge and skills are largely transferable between the two systems. Large numbers of doctors of Indian origin already practice in the NHS providing a useful support network for new arrivals,” Singhal further explained.

British training is internationally recognized and is attractive to doctors in India, especially to those who are unable to obtain a PG seat in India.

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Health UK News

BAPIO condemns the DDRB pay settlement

BAPIO and BINA stand firm with trade union colleagues at the BMA, RCN and UNISON in seeking ways of improving a pay deal that will be fair, just, and rewarding for all doctors, nurses and pharmacists in the NHS…reports Asian Lite News

The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) has strongly condemns the pay settlement for NHS staff announced by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care yesterday.

Doctors and dentists in the UK have been subjected to an erosion of their pay by more than 30% since 2008-09, and nurses have also seen a real-term pay cut of 5% in the last decade.

Many NHS staff have struggled to keep up been awarded a paltry sum for the sterling efforts made during a challenging time for the NHS, sometimes at a personal cost to them. The derisory 4% pay raise for nurses and 4.5% for eligible doctors and dentists this year shows the contempt with which the government holds NHS staff, and the low priority it gives to sustaining the NHS which it is slowly dismantling in its bid to increase privatisation.

An average of £27 per week increase for 70% of nurses will further plunge us into a workforce crisis. Public sector pay over the last year has been 1.5% against a much more attractive offer of 8.1% in the private sector, which will further increase the exodus of doctors, dentists, and nurses from the NHS.

It is also deplorable that the doctors and dentists in training, many SAS doctors and Locally Employed Doctors (LED) are not included in this review. While the former two groups were side-lined because of the multi-year deal that was agreed upon, this must be reconsidered as the level of inflation and cost of living are now unprecedented. It is regrettable that neither the pay review body nor the government acknowledges the contributions of LED doctors who are probably the most exploited group of doctors in this country.

BAPIO and BINA stand firm with trade union colleagues at the BMA, RCN and UNISON in seeking ways of improving a pay deal that will be fair, just, and rewarding for all doctors, nurses and pharmacists in the NHS.

Dr Satheesh Mathew, Vice President, commented: “This appalling so-called pay rise adds insult to injury for all our NHS doctors and dentists who have worked tirelessly to keep the NHS afloat over the last decade and especially during a pandemic which has caused them stress, burnout, and sometimes personal grief. The government must act now, otherwise, the consequences to the NHS and our patients are dire”.

Dr. JS Bamrah, the Chairman, states that: “This pay settlement will reverberate for a long time in the NHS because the NHS has only survived through the goodwill of our dedicated doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other staff. On top of the uprising of the staff in other sectors, we are in for a summer of discontent, and I fear that this winter is likely to see our NHS plunge into a real crisis”.

Marimouttou Coumarassamy, Chair of the British Indian Nurses Association, reports that his members are dismayed. “The government needs to show it cares for our nurses, many of whom are struggling at a time of rising costs and inflation. Unless we pay our hard-working nurses a fair salary we will see a crisis in recruitment and retention, at a time when we need them most. I would urge it to act now”.

ALSO READ-BAPIO raises concerns with Sajid Javid about cancelled PLAB2 tests

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-Top News Diaspora UK News

BAPIO raises concerns with Sajid Javid about cancelled PLAB2 tests

UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid

PLAB2 is essential for ensuring that overseas qualified doctors can demonstrate competency to train in the NHS, and hence the 2,500 doctors who have arrived on the shores of the UK were expected to take the test and for the successful ones, to commence training, reports Asian Lite News

BAPIO has raised serious concerns with Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and Charlie Massey, the CEO of the General Medical Council about the cancellation of PLAB2 tests during January and February 2022.

The GMC announced on 22 December 2021 that it was cancelling all PLAB2 tests for overseas doctors during the months of January and February 2022. The announcement was made without any prior discussion with medical organisations who have worked closely with the GMC for some time but especially during the stressful times of the pandemic.

PLAB2 is essential for ensuring that overseas qualified doctors can demonstrate competency to train in the NHS, and hence the 2,500 doctors who have arrived on the shores of the UK were expected to take the test and for the successful ones, to commence training. The UK is facing significant shortages in medical manpower and so this news comes on the back of mounting pressures on NHS Trusts, made worse by the spread of Omicron.

Furthermore, the affected doctors are now without jobs, in a foreign country and without the financial means to support themselves for the extra months required. The GMC has indicated that the exams for this cohort of doctors will be held in later this year, which is an unacceptable delay. This is more so because it does not seem that the GMC has learned from the mistakes of the past, when the PLAB tests were cancelled during the first and second lockdowns. Many candidates from that cohort remain traumatised to this day.

BAPIO as well as other diaspora organisations have expressed concerns to the GMC as well as the Sajid Javid about this state of affairs. We have formed a network of support for these foreign doctors while this matter is being resolved.

Dr Ramesh Mehta, President of BAPIO said, “This cancellation of PLAB2 tests not only deprives us from timely recruitment of these valuable doctors, it also causes them significant hardship in a foreign country. I am very concerned about this state of affairs.”

Health Secy Sajid Javid during a visit at the Milton Keynes University Hospital (Source twitter@sajidjavid)

Dr JS Bamrah, Chair of BAPIO, is concerned about how doctors in this situation are treated. “Migrant doctors have formed an invaluable part of the NHS workforce. This sort of action by the GMC only serves to give the wrong perception to migrant doctors in this country as well as those who intend to come and serve the NHS”.

“The cancellation of GMC examinations is worrying.” states Dr Biju Simon, Joint Secretary, adding that “Many young doctors already sacrificed their time and money to be here in the UK, despite the uncertainties of the COVID pandemic. The cancellation of the PLAB tests amplifies the agony adding further psychological torment and financial deficit.”

ALSO READ: UK To Lure Indians With New Visa Schemes

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UK News

BAPIO to provide telemedicine for Covid patients in India

BIDA has joined hands with the Oxygen for India appeal by British Asian Trust, recently backed by Prince Charles, to crowdfund through Just Giving towards the cause and raised 35,000 pounds within days…reports Asian Lite News

Indian-origin doctors in the UK on Sunday said they are in the process of rapidly expanding their telemedicine project through collaborations with Indian hospitals as part of a wider COVID India Appeal.

The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) has raised nearly 108,000 pounds within days of setting up a Go Fund Me online appeal and said the initial amount of released funds are making their way to India to help provide immediate assistance such a food supplies for the needy through the Akhshaya Patra charity, with procurement of equipment next in line.

Meanwhile, the BAPIO Telemedicine project has received support and clarification from the UK’s General Medical Council (GMC) and has already started teleconsulting with hospitals in Nagpur, with expansion plans in the next few days.

“The effort is aimed at offering help to our exhausted and over-stretched colleagues in India,” said BAPIO Secretary Dr Parag Singhal.

“The telemedicine virtual hub project is going very well. We have hundreds of volunteers who have expressed their support for this and the aim is to get 1,000 doctors on board to help across three fronts – reporting on CT scans, help for less serious cases through virtual ward rounds, and help for patients in a home setting,” he explained.

BAPIO is working in collaboration with Doctors Association UK (DAUK), Apna NHS and Akshaya Patra with a target to raise around 500,000 pounds towards the telemedicine and advice helplines as well as acquiring and coordinating the distribution of vital oxygen generating and distribution equipment for hospitals and healthcare facilities in India and providing free food to all in need.

The association said it will be working closely with the High Commission of India in London and various National Health Service (NHS) organisations to ensure a wide reach of its efforts.

 “We are pleased to say that we now have support from the Royal College of Surgeons, the Royal College of Pathologists and the British Indian Nurses Association amongst many others and are making very good progress towards our goal,” BAPIO said in its update on the fundraising efforts.

The British International Doctors Association (BIDA), which also includes many Indian-origin doctors and medics, are also taking part in the virtual telemedicine efforts to help ease the burden on doctors and healthcare professionals coping with India’s massive surge of coronavirus cases.

BIDA has joined hands with the Oxygen for India appeal by British Asian Trust, recently backed by Prince Charles, to crowdfund through Just Giving towards the cause and raised 35,000 pounds within days.

“Every member knows somebody who has died. In my own family my mum had COVID-19 a week ago – luckily she pulled through. Now my sister and my brother-in-law are also struggling with it,” Dr Chandra Kanneganti, Indian-origin general practitioner and BIDA chair, told ‘GP Online’.

“We are very lucky to have the NHS [National Health Service], and people recognise that when you hear stories from other countries that don’t have enough oxygen supplies, medicines or ventilators,” he said.

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Read More-Boris, Modi to hold virtual summit

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-Top News India News UK News

BAPIO announces strategy to support India

The BAPIO has also teamed up with the NHS and the High Commission of India to source and supply India with oxygen, oxygen concentrators, ventilators and medicines, as required, reports Asian Lite News

The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) A body of 6,000 doctors in the UK of Indian origin has written to Boris Johnson requesting further medical equipment be sent to India as a “matter of urgency”. 

With India struggling with climbing Covid-19 numbers, the group of doctors is assisting medics in India by offering triage of patients over video calls, as well as assessing Covid-19 patient’s CT scans and offering advice to intensive care doctors. They’re also in conversation with the NHS to acquire and ship any surplus medical equipment to India.

BAPIO

BAPIO has said that some of its members are also willing to travel to India to assist. Indian doctors form the second largest in numbers in the UK after British qualified doctors and so there are significant numbers affected indirectly or directly by this second wave in India. The BAPIO has also teamed up with the NHS and the High Commission of India to source and supply India with oxygen, oxygen concentrators, ventilators and medicines, as required.

The group has also partnered with APNA NHS, DAUK and Akshaya Patra UK, to set up a fund with an ambitious target of £500,000 to purchase equipment and to feed the needy in India.

Meanwhile, The World Health Organization chief voiced alarm at India’s record-breaking wave of Covid-19 cases and deaths, saying the organisation was rushing to help address the crisis.

Also Read – BAPIO Slams PHE Report on BAME Deaths

“The situation in India is beyond heartbreaking,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters.

He spoke as India battles a catastrophic coronavirus wave that has overwhelmed hospitals, with crematoriums working at full capacity. A surge in recent days has seen patients’ families taking to social media to beg for oxygen supplies and locations of available hospital beds, and has forced the capital New Delhi to extend a week-long lockdown.

“WHO is doing everything we can, providing critical equipment and supplies,” Tedros said.

He said the UN health agency was among other things sending “thousands of oxygen concentrators, prefabricated mobile field hospitals and laboratory supplies”.

Also Read – BAPIO Urges NHS to Ensure Safety Of Staff