Guwahati, Sept 4: A high-level delegation from the Health Department of the Assam government has left for London to visit and conduct field studies at leading medical education and research institutions and public health service institutions under the National Health Service (NHS) of England.
The delegation was led by Minister of Transport, Science and Technology and Information Technology Keshav Mahanta on the direction of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The ‘Experience Gain Programme’ under the World Bank-assisted ‘Assam State Secondary Health Service Initiative’ (ASSIST) project under the supervision of ‘Assam Health Infrastructure Development and Management Committee’ (AHIDMS) formed to coordinate planning, supervision and implementation of externally aided projects in the health sector.
The delegation, which arrived in London on Sunday night (September 1), was accompanied by Commissioner Secretary, Health Department Dr P Ashok Babu, Managing Director, Assam Medical Services Corporation Limited (AMSCL) Dr Robin Kumar, Executive Director and Additional Director of Medical Education Dr. Manoj Kumar Chowdhury and Joint Secretary and Director of Health Services (Family Welfare) Kamaljit Talukdar.
Mahanta and top health officials visited the United Medical and Dental Schools of Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital in London under the NHS on Monday (September 2) as part of this important government visit. King’s College London is divided into three renowned medical campuses: Guy’s Campus, near the famous London Bridge on the south bank of the River Thames, and St Thomas’s in Lambeth, central London.
The delegation visited the two Mass Hospital premises and gained visual experience of state-of-the-art medical education, research and clinical practice management in England and observed important aspects to be followed. During the visit, the team met Professor Gita Menon, National Dean for Inclusive Integrated Careers, Dr Claire Mallinson, Director of Education and Training on behalf of Kings Health Partners and Guys and St Thomas Trust Dr Rob Godfrey, Medical Education Programmes, Dr Eui-Sik Suh, Deputy Director of Undergraduate Education, Richard Godwin, Simulation Manager and Technical Lead, Numeir Shahpur,
Head of Simulation Operations, King’s College London and also in conversation with ‘United Graduate Service Manager’ Rachelle Mitchell. During the discussion, both sides discussed important aspects of the world-renowned medical institution of King’s College London’s approach to maintaining the highest standards of medical research, education and clinical practice.
The professors and executives of King’s Health Partners and Guys and St Thomas Trust also briefed the delegation on the significant contribution of the National Health Service (NHS) to the public health service and medical education and research sector in the country.
The Minister briefed on the progress made in the health sector in Assam in the last few years and the important steps taken by the Assam government to strengthen the public health service system and medical education and research infrastructure in the state’s faculty and executives in detail.
The NHS in England has a worldwide reputation for providing sophisticated, streamlined public health services and high-quality medical education and research. Similarly, the United Medical and Dental Schools of Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital under King’s College London were recognized as one of the top 10 medical institutions in the world in clinical medicine in the 2023 Times Higher Education list.
