Doctor pushes course on infectious diseases

Shah’s efforts to start a three-year post MBBS course in infectious diseases leading to a specialty yielded results in 2008,when the government gave in-principle nod.

“I come to India every year and meet key officials in the government both at the state and Centre to push forth the proposals. A meeting has been scheduled in mid-November with the health secretary and Medical Council of India officials so that we can discuss introduction of the training course in infectious diseases,” Shah said.

Shah met dean of B J Medical college Dr Ajay Chandanwale and other BJMC officials on Saturday and discussed the need for introducing the course.

Shah was particularly happy that the state government had finally decided to adopt the American model of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). There are 360,000 people who die annually in the country due to road and other accidents,Shah said. The doctor who played a major role in urging the government to set up EMS and trauma centres in Mumbai said that tenders are now being invited for starting 950 ambulances under the programme. In his statement,Dr Bhushan Gagrani,public health secretary,acknowledged Shah’s contribution to the project and said it will be launched soon in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra.

The American College of Surgeons’ Trauma Director Dr Wayne Meredith has offered a fully paid scholarship to invite a Mumbai-based surgeon for a week’s training in the US as part of the EMS course,Shah said.

The doctor has also urged participation in the Indo-US physician exchange programme set up the Amercian Professional Exchange Association.

This provides free,web-based services that match US physicians with ones in India for a voluntary and mutually agreed reciprocal visit.

Such programmes will help visiting Indian physicians get acquainted with the US health care system.