A lecture on Global Indian medical diaspora by University of York on March 3

Dr. Munish Kumar Raizada

Indian medical doctors have now become an international species, so to say. Even though, there is a shortage of doctors in India, yet the Indian doctor has ventured out (like Gandhi) and has touched the shores of literally all continents. USA, England are obviously the hot destinations for doctors, Canada, Australia not falling behind. In USA, 20 % of all international medical graduates consist of (East) Indian doctors. Indian doctors literally constitute a 'model minority' in USA!- characterized by advanced education and high earning.

Middle East's health industry is literally shouldered by doctors, nurses and paramedics of Indian origin. However, Africa is another continent where you will come across Indian doctors and medical teachers. In last 2 decades, several medical schools have come up in Caribbean islands.

Medical teachers from India make up a chunk of the workforce there too. I have come across Indian doctors in as unlikely places as Seychelles! This brain drain of Indian doctors is obviously a boon for the countries which welcome them with open arms.

Thus, I was not surprised when I came across this upcoming lecture.

The University of York, situated about 3 hours drive from London will host a lecture on the topic of the spread of doctors of Indian descent venturing out to various parts of world in last half a century. The speaker will be Professor David Wright, McGill University, Canada. Professor Wright will speak on the topic:

"Not everyone can be a Gandhi": The global Indian medical diaspora in the post-world war II era.

The university's notification says: "From Manchester to Melbourne, from Auckland to Aberystwyth, from Detroit to Dartmouth, doctors from the Indian Subcontinent dispersed throughout the Western World in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

To date, the demographic phenomenon of Indian- and other foreign-trained doctors has largely resided on the fringes of 'national' histories of twentieth-century health services. Adopting a global health history perspective, this lecture examines the post-war Indian medical diaspora, exploring the contemporary impact and historical legacy of this remarkable circulation of health care practitioners."