Mukesh Haikerwal
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Dr. Mukesh Haikerwal (born December 28, 1960) is a Melbourne, Australia GP and former federal president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA).
In 1998, Dr. Haikerwal became a vice-president of the Victorian branch of the AMA, and in 2001 was elected Victorian president. He went on to become federal vice-president and federal president. He was one of the youngest federal AMA presidents and one of the few who stood unopposed.
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[edit] Education
He was educated at Eltham College, London and at Leicester University.
[edit] Background
His Indian-born parents were British citizens based in London, and were working for the United Nations in Nigeria when he was born. At six he attended boarding school in England, where his family returned when he was 10.
Before immigrating to Australia he worked as a doctor at Leicester General Hospital, working 72-hour weeks, then more on weekends. He lobbied for better conditions. "If you want someone to work hard, pay them properly and give them good conditions. If you've got doctors that are working and happy, they'll do a better job. And the patients will benefit at the end of the day, too." [1]
In 1982, Haikerwal came to visit his family and had his first tour of Australia; eight years later, he moved there permanently and set up practice in Melbourne's western suburbs, where he still works.
[edit] Priorities as AMA President
Haikerwal's first two priorities as President of the Australian Medical Association were maintaining the public-private mix and supporting the position that doctors help run hospitals. "Organisations are so de-medicalised, you get decisions made in an office so far away from the delivery end that are doomed for disaster."[2]
[edit] Family
He is married to Dr Karyn Alexander; they have three sons, Ajaya, 14, Suresh, 15, and Jeevan, 11.
[edit] Links
- http://www.theage.com.au/news/General/Politics-and-the-medicine-man/2005/06/03/1117568371123.html?from=moreStories
- http://www.ama.com.au/web.nsf/doc/WEEN-6CC8HF
- http://www.companydirectors.com.au/About/Speakers/H/Dr+Mukesh+Haikerwal.htm
