Our Mission
BIDA aims to support, encourage, train and acknowledge the wonderful work of Britain’s international doctors and dentists, without whom our NHS would simply collapse. We also promote understanding, tolerance, equity and fairness – join us, today at Join BIDA | British Internationa
Is this Asterix online plan galling?
Opposition MPs and Doctor’s organisations have criticised an Asterix Healthcare service, offering online appointments with GPs in far-flung countries.
Reputedly introduced to free-up NHS doctors’ time, the scheme has been described by The Mail as treatment “from the beach' anywhere in the world.” https://www.msn.com/en-ie/health/other/nhs-will-hire-foreign-doctors-to-treat-patients-in-virtual-appointments-from-anywhere-in-the-world/ar-AA1VSNGY?ocid=BingNewsVerp
It adds, “the NHS is recruiting and training overseas doctors to treat UK patients in the same way and even offering tutors to train them up in English language skills to help them deal with consultations.”
The piece not only opens debate on the use of international doctors once again, but it questions the effectiveness of online consultations and whether they have lost the personal touch.
What is your view? And is this another sensationalist attack on the overseas doctors who have done so much to keep the NHS afloat?
No more years of women's health woe
Future changes to the NHS’ ten-year-strategy must address gender inequality, the North-South divide and race and ethnicity.
That is the thrust of our Women’s Healthcare Forum Chair’s blog in top medical publication MIMS Learning.
Dr Anita Sharma claims the plan “risks recreating and perpetuating structural bias and data gaps in the health system.” She continues: “A plan that is ‘fit for the future’ must examine who the NHS is designed to benefit and who it continues to leave behind.” – Go to https://www.mimslearning.co.uk/pages/mims-learning-blog
As the founder of charity Endometriosis Awareness North, Dr Sharma has been very vocal about health inequalities – often bemoaning the lack of resource put into issues such as endo, and of cervical and breast cancer screening in BAME communities.
You can learn more about Endometriosis Awareness North by visiting https://endometriosisawarenessnorth.com/awareness
Medscape measures our motivation for movement
A specialist clinical news outlet has produced a fascinating insight into why international doctors come to the UK.
But it comes with a health warning. A failure to provide clear career pathways and a warm welcome could mean their interest wanes and specialisms are lost – https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/overseas-doctors-power-the-nhs-but-uncertainty-grows/ar-AA1Ulxze?ocid=BingNewsVerp
Medscape reveals the details of a study saying: “the NHS remains a major destination for doctors trained overseas, but growing uncertainty around training, progression and long-term prospects is prompting many to reconsider their future in the UK. As health systems worldwide compete for talent, the UK faces a pivotal moment. Overseas doctors continue to keep the NHS running—but our findings suggest that without clearer pathways, better support and a more welcoming environment, many may choose to take their skills elsewhere.”
BIDA’s role is to welcome international doctors to the UK and be their voice as we seek to overcome prejudice and provide an equitable health service.
Our doctor urges better BAME engagement
Cervical screening rates are down, with communities such as Oldham a full three points behind the national average.
And our women’s healthcare forum chair Dr Anita Sharma believes that is because cultural barriers plus a lack of connection with the NHS means that residents in her borough are not attending smear tests.
Speaking during Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, she highlighted how 99.8% of cases could have been prevented had proper screening taken place.
Dr Sharma also blamed anti-vaxxers for the fall in uptake of the HPV vaccine in schools.
The hopeful news is that she has once again teamed up with Muzahid Khan MBE to raise awareness.
The two pioneered Britain’s first #breastcancer drive for Asian women Pink Chai, which launched so successfully last year.
To learn more, go to https://endometriosisawarenessnorth.com/
From the President
Watch a message from our President on the 50-year-anniversary of BIDA and why we are founded on a philosophy of “friendship, dignity, respect and service above oneself.” https://www.youtube.com/shorts/C1HVB3oy2e8