"WHY I JOINED BIDA"
“I joined the association in the late sixties when it was called Overseas
Doctors Association (ODA) more for a social reason and then it turned out to be
more for equal rights and opportunities and against discrimination of
overseas-qualified doctors. Then it grew and the name was changed to
BIDA to be more inclusive and to include all overseas-qualified doctors and
became like a trade union.
I personally did not need any help over the years but was able to help few
fellow overseas doctors in their training in General Practice. I strongly
recommend all ethnic doctors even if they qualify from here to join the
BIDA to safe guard their rights and future.”
DR DHUNI SOREN, RETIRED GP
BIDA MERSEYSIDE DIVISION
“As a foreign graduate, one is more likely to be unsuccessful in their
ARCP/membership exams and also be bullied at workplace. Yet very
little has been done to help foreign graduates and worryingly, there is much of an appetite to change this. BIDA is one of the very few platforms that challenges the norm and does its best to empower foreign graduates. Moreover, it is empowering to meet people with similar sensibilities all striving to achieve the best for themselves and the NHS.”
MR PUSKAR BURA, SpR CARDIOLOGY
“I was first introduced to BIDA (then ODA) via an Educational event, the
contents of which impressed me immensely. It was to become a forum for
me to keep up with specialities other than my own, with the added bonus of
meeting and socialisation with like-minded professionals. It has over the
years provided to me a platform for social and professional interaction
and serves a valuable tool to connect with the wider medical world.”
MR. NIKHIL KAUSHIK FRCOphth, CONSULTANT OPHTHALMOLOGIST
BIDA NORTH WALES DIVISION
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“BIDA embodies the aspirations and ideals of all International doctors.
BIDA is our voice and its strong image provides a platform, which
represents our welfare. My interest has been mainly its educational
activities through the Journal and regular medical meetings. It’s an
opportunity to meet up with colleagues of differing nationalities and
specialities, which makes up this organisation.”
MR AMIT SINHA, CONSULTANT ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON
BIDA NORTH WALES DIVISION
“I joined BIDA because I believe BIDA speaks for the international doctor’s
interest and highlights their problems. We face some of the problems that
local doctors do not go through nor do they understand these issues e.g.,
visa requirements, racial discriminations etc. BIDA has got grips with these
issues. BIDA publishes a journal, which is informative and covers a wide
area of practice. On top, BIDA provides a network for professional advice
and support.”