President of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, Dr. Ramesh Mehta, has been recognized through the Queen’s Birthday Honors List that was announced on June 16, with an appointment of the officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for the services to the British National Health Service.
Dr Mehta, was until his recent retirement, has served as a consultant and lead pediatrician at Bedford Hospital and his 30 years in the health system is considered exemplary. Dr Mehta said, ‘I am grateful for such a recognition and share the achievement with all my colleagues, friends and family members who have supported me for the years.’
Indian NGO Project ‘Life’ Reach North America
His professional leadership as a pediatrician has helped to modernize local and regional Child Health services in the U.K. according to a press release from BAPIO. He has influenced in policy making decisions regarding the health care of children nationally. His various roles have included, Chairman for the East of England Paediatric Development Group; council member for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health; vice chair for MRCPCH part 2 Examination Board; member of the standards setting group in paediatrics and neonatology of General Medical Council; and reviewer for Health Care Commission.
Dr Mehta has contributed significantly at the national level on issues related to supporting equality and diversity for NHS professionals. He created BAPIO IN 1996, and this is the most influential national organisation of the BME doctors, according to the release.
He has challenged unfair practices within the NHS. He has successfully led the legal battle against the Department of Health and the Home Office to change discriminating laws affecting doctors in training. He has led the judicial review against the Royal College of General Practitioners and the General Medical Council, regarding differential attainment of BME doctors. This has resulted in all medical establishments reviewing their practices.
19th Biennial JAINA Convention
Dr. Mehta has personally helped hundreds of individual doctors by providing them guidance on career progression; taken keen interest in medical education and training; and is the Asia lead for international exams of the Royal Collage of Paediatrics and Child Health.
He is a recipient of several awards including the prestigious National Clinical Excellence Awards. He was among the Health Service Journal’s top 50 BME leaders in the NHS for 2 consecutive years in 2013 and 1014.He was HSJ top 100 clinical Leaders in the NHS in 2014. He has been awarded Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Collage of Paediatrics and Child Health.
By Premji
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