AIMA looks ahead after its inaugural function
Australian Indian Medical Association (AIMA) established in May 2008 to look after the professional and educational needs of the NSW-based doctors of Indian background held its inaugural function on 31st October, 2008 in Sydney.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Pradyumn Singh, President, AIMA said, ”AIMA welcomes the participation from the younger doctors which is increasing and recognises the energy of its younger members. AIMA will network with other government agencies and influence the execution of policies which have anything to do with the Indian community.” He added, “We are always loyal to Australia and have only one identity for all of us in multicultural Australia and we don’t believe in forming associations based on caste, geography or linguistics. We want to encourage more young doctors to come forward, especially those that have done specialisation here.”
Yadu Singh, Secretary/Public Officer, AIMA acknowledged that even though the doctors from the Indian community were well respected, there were still incidents like the one related to Queensland doctor (Mohd Haneef), which the fraternity has to tackle. He also informed that a special program for the development of doctors will be initiated and said that their organisation was aiming to increase the membership to over 300 doctors which would include Junior and Senior Medical Officers and GPs in the next 6 months. AIMA will also provide continuing professional development and the accreditation has provided by RACGP for this, he added.
Warning the audience to be careful about their health, Dr Yadu said, “Our medical papers have confirmed that the Indian community members are suffering increasing incidents of heart attacks and diabetes. Worse they get these attacks 10-15 years earlier than their other Australian counterparts, which is a big source of worry.”
Dr Morton, NSW President, Australian Medical Association said, AMA was the only association which supports medical professionals of all types. There are currently 26,000 members in Australia and warned that the Government was looking to short term solutions and if the health model is not correct, then this will affect the health care needs of all Australians.
Lord Mayor of Parramatta, Tony Issa commented he was very happy to have his family doctor as an Indian and Indians are the most well behaved community. He welcomed Indian doctors to set up their practice and work in Parramatta.
The acting High Commissioner of Fiji, Kamlesh Kumar Arya also spoke on the occasion and presented the case of the present Fijian government before the audience.
The Indian High Commissioner, Sujatha Singh came especially from Canberra to attend the event. She commended the doctors for their efforts and said it was a matter of great pride and joy to see the Indian doctors working and see the value they were adding in far flung areas. Describing her experience when she visited Alice Springs, she said 80% of the staff there were from India and they were working very closely with the indigenous people. She also singled out the service of those Indian doctors who were operating solely in some very remote areas of Australia.
Sujatha Singh also commended the efforts of the Indian Diaspora and said they had made a name for themselves in any society you chose. She urged AIMA to add one more objective which was to forge linkages with institutions in India. “Medical institutions in India and its doctors were world class and people all over the world came to India for treatments. If you work closely actively on this, it will benefit not just the doctors but will also strengthen bilaterals”, she urged.
AIMA website and its newsletter were also launched on the occasion.
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