New Delhi: A world-renowned UK medical institution aims to focus the spotlight on its international role with a special event to celebrate its strong links with healthcare professionals of India.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG) in London has 341 fellows in India and 239 members. The idea for its "India Day" (July 4) came out of a recent visit to India by RCOG vice- president Dr Matt Carty who has organised the celebratory meeting jointly with Dr Sulochana Gunasheela, a fellow of the college based in Bangalore.

Dr Carty explained, "The College has many, many years of association with India which exemplify the key to our philosophy as an international resource for the profession."

Some 55 per cent of RCOG fellows and members (totalling more than 6,000) work overseas and we have 29 representative committees in countries around the world, looking after the interests of local fellows and members."

Indeed, he pointed out, because of the vastness of the country there are four such committees in India covering the north, south, east and west regions, respectively, under an All-India Coordinating Committee.

But most obstetricians and gynecologists in India and elsewhere are not members or fellows of the college, and Dr Carty also wants to increase links with these, although they are in any case already able to access RCOG resources through the committees.

He pointed out that the fundamental aim of the college - Setting Standards to Improve Women's Health - is to contribute to postgraduate education and raise standards in female healthcare on a global basis regardless of the level of resources available.

Dr Carty said that in celebrating the strong two-way ties that exist between Indian doctors and the college, it should be acknowledged that "Indian obstetricians and gynecologists have themselves contributed enormously to the healthcare of women within the UK, with large numbers of Indian doctors- many very distinguished - working in this specialty here". He also acknowledged the "extremely high standard of practice in India, where the top teaching hospitals are as good as anything in the UK, if not better".

India Day, he said, would help underline the fact that, through the RCOG, professionals and specialists of the sub-continent and other countries could feel part of "an international club".

Unlike any conventional postgraduate meeting, the event would not comprise UK doctors talking or lecturing to their overseas counterparts. Rather, it was conceived as a friendly "family affair" in celebration mood, with many Indian doctors from the UK attending to meet their colleagues from the sub- continent.

While the college is held in high regard in India, many of the speakers at the India Day conference are also highly respected in their field and "it would be great to have their contribution to the healthcare of women worldwide recognised".

ANI