First batch of 80 doctors to fly to UK for 2-yr training

Nagpur: More than 80 fresh MBBS doctors, who received on-the-job training from the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO)’s training academy (BTA) during the last two years at more than 12 multi-speciality hospitals across the country, are now set to fly to the UK for the second leg of their 4-year-training. Nagpur’s KIMS-Kingsway Hospital is the pioneer in launching this unique educational initiative which aims at knowledge exchange between doctors from India and the UK.

“As we started from Nagpur, we are organizing our first ever Indo-UK Health Education Conclave in the city itself. We will also conduct the investiture ceremony of doctors on Sunday,” said Professor Parag Singhal, executive director of BAPIO Training Academy.

The initiative was launched in 2020 in Nagpur. Despite the Covid pandemic, the first batch of doctors has been successfully trained at KIMS-Kingsway Hospitals and cleared for placement in the UK. “Like Kingsway, some 12 Indian hospitals provide training opportunities for MBBS doctors for the first two years while the UK-based National Health Services (NHS) trusts provide them with employment and further training for two years. On completion of this training, the successful doctors can come back to India or pursue higher education in the UK,” said Dr Raju Khandelwal.

The Datta Meghe Institute for Higher Education and Research (DMIHER) and the AVB Rural Hospital, Sawangi, are also actively supporting the programme.

Indian diplomat Ruchi Ghanshyam, who played an important role in the formation of the BAPIO Training Academy, said UK has thousands of Indian origin doctors. “With BAPIO’s initiatives, UK universities have reduced the course fees significantly. BAPIO doctors are also giving monitory support to needy and talented doctors. In all, this initiative will bring about very good results,” she said.

LEARN, EARN AND RETURN

* Indian MBBS doctors get world class healthcare training: 2 years in India, 2 in UK

* They get exposure to hone their skills, earn handsomely in UK for 2 years

* They have to return to India and work here or continue highest education in UK

* NHSE and Department of Health, UK, provided patronage, support

* First batch completed Indian wing of training, now ready to fly to UK