British PM Boris Johnson’s visit and trade investment deals announced

New Delhi, April 23, 2022: The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, who is on a two day-visit to India, announced one billion pounds of new commercial deals, which also captures Ujala Cygnus Healthcare Group 6.9mn pound deal to train Indian doctors in acute medicine. An advanced Post Graduate Program in Primary Care and Acute Medicine has been designed by Ujala Cygnus Healthcare Group in collaboration with BAPIO (British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin) Training Academy to expand India’s medical capacity in the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic and rising burden of NCDs.

The Indo-UK Training Programme in Acute Medicine has been designed to upskill Indian MBBS doctors seeking higher qualifications and training and an aspiring career in Medicine in India. A group of interested doctors will be recruited for this program and will be enrolled in MSc in Acute Medicine which will provide them with knowledge, hands-on clinical training and bedside medicine by local faculty and topped up virtually by UK-based faculty. The medical aspirants will also get a chance to visit all the NHS Hospitals in the country for six weeks to have a first-hand experience of the best practises in these healthcare centres so that they can learn and implement those teaching in the Indian hospitals, where 20 doctors will be selected to work eventually.

“India, which is emerging as the medical soft power, is now producing over 83,275 medical graduates every year through its network of 558 medical colleges. However, there are a limited number of international Post Graduate training positions to impart higher speciality training. As a result, a number of doctors, though brilliant, continue to work as MBBS doctors. This limits their opportunities for career progression. With this deal, now Indian doctors can also upskill themselves,” said Dr Shuchin Bajaj, Founder & Director, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals.

This course will be beneficial for India as our emerging healthcare communities need to be well educated and highly- skilled so that they can be future ready. Upskilling the healthcare providers through upgraded and continuous medical studies is the key to efficient healthcare delivery when the non-communicable disease burden is increasing at a fast pace in our country.

The training programme empowers young doctors to gain the necessary skills enabling them to progress in their career and deliver quality care to patients. Bapio Training Academy by integrating international, cultural and global dimension into medical education wishes to enhance its quality and prepare international medical graduates and postgraduates for professional practice in a globalized world, a much-needed skill required during challenges like Covid-19.

“Our idea of creating a value based inclusive healthcare organization encompassing primary, preventive, secondary and tertiary for Tier 2 and 3 communities by providing quality care with emphasis on affordable and convenience for Ujala Cygnus Healthcare Services has led to strengthening the portfolio of services towards capacity building and skill development of healthcare and allied areas. UCERI will add industry ready skills and job-oriented trainings to rural and low income communities and add value by providing skilled and certified workforce for country. We are thankful to British government and to support this endeavour,” said, Probal Ghosal, Chairman and Managing Director, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals.