‘Medicos should render class services to the people in country which they live’
| Date :24-Jun-2019 |
Dr Ramesh Mehta (right) and Ahok Khandelwal (left)
By Vikas Vaidya:
We say ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam’ (World is our family) and we follow it also. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always chanted it on world forum on several occasions. Dr Ramesh Mehta, President of Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), who is also the Founder Member of this global organisation has been insisting upon Indian doctors working abroad to follow ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam’ by rendering world class service to the people of the country wherever they stay. There are 140,000 Physicians of Indian Origin working in the English speaking Western world. Between 10-30% of the physicians working in USA, UK, Canada and Australia have their roots in India.
There are also significant number of Indian Physicians working in Middle East, South East Asia and Africa. The idea of GAPIO was originally conceived in January 2009 at Chennai between Dr Prathap C Reddy, Dr. Sanku Rao, Dr. Ramesh Mehta & Mr. Anwar Feroz. They decided to set up GAPIO that came into existence in 2011. Right now 34 countries and 24 states of India are its members. Dr Ramesh Mehta, Nagpur born and an alumnus of Government Medical College and Hospital became President of GAPIO in the year 2017 was. He and his colleague Ashok Khandelwal, Director of Operations of British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) in Nagpur for the preparations of conference to be held at Nagpur in January, 2020. Both talked to ‘The Hitavada’ on various issues at length. Dr Mehta and his colleague Ashok Khandelwal, Director of Operations of BAPIO were in Nagpur.
Discussing on that issue Dr Mehta said, good communication between doctors and relatives of patients is must for which we have introduced soft skill training for doctors. The concept has several components. “This is a classroom based soft skills enhancement training workshops focusing on communication, time management, team motivation, conflict management, setting expectations, meeting and managing aspirations of employees, leadership styles but same goal, identifying strengths and delegation, motivation to improve performance and healthcare economics/ drivers of financial growth, code of conduct/professional ethics, etc,” pointed out Dr Mehta Dr Mehta was instrumental in launching Clinical Knowledge Development program under which clinical knowledge of young medicos would be enhanced. Dr Mehta said, “There is a big pool of distinguished doctors in multiple specialities and superspecialties, who are GAPIO members working at renowned and reputed institutions overseas as well as in India. Incorporating them a specially created platform - the GAPIO resource centre, an online resource centre will be developed where recorded videos can be watched by doctors from the comfort of their homes. Mentors will guide the mentees about career adoption in a foreign country.” Leadership Development Programme is another initiative, a brainchild of Dr Mehta.
“India produces more than 65,000 doctors annually. Students from top colleges receive excellent clinical training but they lack soft skills as the curriculum does not include communication, time management, team building and other such soft skills. GAPIO has a vision to train medical fraternity to become effective leaders,” explained Dr Mehta.
People’s medical education In Nagpur conference we will spread a thought about how to render education to public about medical component. In Chennai at Arikonda regular health check up of local population is done. We have trained local people there. It is a birth place of Dr Pratap Reddy, founder member of GAPIO where people are trained to check pulse, BP, do blood sugar. All the tests reports are shown to doctors who then treat the patients. This has given wonderful results. Health of the people of the area started improving.
Young Doctors Forum to be set up in Nagpur “There are very few forums for young doctors who are below 40 years of age. We are starting such forums everywhere. In Nagpur conference we will open this and all will be linked to each other. They will exchange ideas among each other and enhance quality of healthcare. We will promote research and innovation in the forum. We will invite papers from young doctors. Best paper selected will be given fellowship who will be taken to London to study the healthcare industry there,” informed Dr Mehta.
Women doctors’ Forum According to Dr Mehta, women in India or abroad have double responsibilities, look after home and profession. He wants to know their needs and how GAPIO could support them. This issue would be given a serious thought, pointed out Dr Mehta
MET of Royal College in Nagpur Royal College of London runs Medical Education and Training programmes. Dr Ramesh Mehta and Ashok Khandelwal both originally belong to BAPIO convinced the College to start its centres in India and one such centre started at Delhi. Both being Nagpurian want to bring, same courses, fellowship programmes at Nagpur and it will be done, promised Dr Mehta. One such centre will be started at Nagpur.
‘GAPIO 2020’ in January 2020 at Kingsway Hospital
GAPIO in association with Academy of Medical Sciences, (AMS),Nagpur branch will be holding it 10th Annual Conference on January 3, 4 and 5, 2020 at Kingsway Hospitals, 44 Kingsway, near Kasturchand Park. Other city organisations like Indian Medical Association, Indian Academy of Paediatrics, Diabetic Association of India, Association of Physicians of India, and Cardiological Society of India, several other medical institutions, associations have decided to associate and support the event.