Mukesh Haikerwal

Dr. Mukesh Chandra Haikerwal AO,^[1]FRACGP (born 28 December 1960) is a Melbourne, Australia GP and former federal president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA).

Background

Mukesh Haikerwal was born in Lucknow, India, to Indian-born parents, who were British citizens based in London and working in Nigeria at the time. At the age of six he was sent to a boarding school in England. His parents returned to England when he was ten years old. He was subsequently educated at Eltham College, London, and at Leicester University.

Mukesh Haikerwal was employed for some time 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."^[2]

Mukesh Haikerwal travelled to Australia in 1982 to visit his family and the country. Eight years later, he emigrated permanently and set up practice in Melbourne's western suburbs, where he still works.

Mukesh Haikerwal is married to Dr Karyn Alexander. They have three sons: Ajaya, Suresh and Jeevan. He is also the oldest of his 3 brothers.

On 27 September 2008, Mukesh Haikerwal nearly died after being bashed and robbed by 5 males near Dennis Reserve in Williamstown, Victoria.Mukesh Haikerwal sustained serious head injuries in the attack^[3] and was in a coma for 24 hours and remained in hospital for 2 months. He underwent emergency brain surgery to remove a blood clot^[4] and has suffered minor brain injury.

He had to re-learn how to walk and talk. Mukesh Haikerwal has had an amazing recovery and is now back to full and normal health.

As the result of this near fatal assault Dr Haikerwal opened a dialogue regarding Youth health, the care and provision and services for adolescents and young adults with mental health issues, and exploring the provision of social and support services to this sector.

Qualifications

M.B.; Ch.B. – (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) – University of Leicester, UK

Dip. I.M.C.R.C.S. (Ed.) – (Immediate Medical Care) – Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, UK

D.R.C.O.G. – (Diploma) – Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, UK

Cert. J.C.P.T.G.P. – (Certificate of Prescribed / Equivalent Experience) – Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice, UK

D.R.A.N.Z.C.O.G. – Joint Consultative Committee on Obstetrics, Australia

Australian Medical Association (National)

Mukesh Haikerwal became a vice-president of the Victorian branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) in 1998, 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. He was president from 2005 to 2007.

Mukesh Haikerwal's first two priorities as President of the AMA 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]

Dr Haikerwal was responsible for National policy development, lobbying with the federal parliamentarians, co-ordinating activity across the AMA State entities and representing the association and its 28,500 members nationally and internationally.

Dr Mukesh Haikerwal briefed various state and federal government departments and Ministers on issues of interest to them. He also has a number of discussions with the opposition and minor parties.

Roles with the Australian Medical Association (National)

2005 – 2007: National President

2005 – 2007: Chair Taskforce on Indigenous Health

2003 – 2007: Regular columnist: Australian Medicine, Australian Doctor, Medical Observer.

2003 – 2005:National Vice-President

2003 – 2005: Director, AMPCo – (Australian Medical Publishing)

2003 – 2005: Medical Indemnity task Force

2003 – 2005: Doctors in training committee

2002 – 2005: Therapeutics committee

2002 – 2005: Chair: Committee on the Care of Older People

2002 – 2003: Complementary Medicine Committee

2001 – 2007: Federal Council Member

2001 – 2002: Federal Council rep on AMA Council On General Practice

2001 – 2002–: Member Public Health Committee

2001 – 2002–: Member Audit committee

Honours

2001: Centenary Medal for Services to Medicine.

2003: Fellowship of the AMA (FAMA)

2007: Honorary Fellowship Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)

2009: President’s Award (AMA)

2009: Honorary Life Member RACGP

Current Roles

Principal in own General Practice – in a practice of 6 full-time doctors that consult in all aspects of General Practice.

General Practitioner

National E-Health Transition Authority – Appraising the health professions, consumers, policymakers and the IT industry with Governments of the benefits and opportunities to health care, delivery and efficiency of implementing e-Health.

Consultant on Clinical Engagement.

Advocate on the E-Health.

International collaboration in E-Health.

National Clinical Lead.

Head of Clinical Leadership & Engagement Unit

Senior adviser to the CEO.

Crawford School of Economics and Government – Governance and E-Health

Speaker on Health

Flinders University – School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences

Professor Fellow

beyondblue – the national depression initiative

Chair of Advisory Committee beyondblue National Doctors’ Mental Health Program

National Health & Medical Research Council

Member Health Care Committee

CSIRO Australian E-Health Research Centre

committee member – AEHRC Research and Investment Advisory Committee

World Medical Association – Representing the Australian Medical Association

2007 – 2010: Member of Council

2007 – 2009: Chair Finance and Planning Committee: Executive Councillor

2010: WHPA Joint session: UN NGO Assembly. Melbourne, Australia: Chair

2011: Chairman

External Appointments

The Prime Minister and The Minister for Health and Ageing

2008 – 2009: Commissioner, Australian Health and Hospitals Reform Commission

Federal Minister for Education Science & Training & Federal Minister for Health and Ageing

2007: – Research Quality Framework Programme ceased 2007

2006: Review of Medical Indemnity Policy Review Panel

Victorian Minister for Health

2007: Ministerial Advisory Group on e-Health.

2007: Judge for first National Awards in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

2002 – 2003: Reference Committee for HARP (Hospital Admission Re-direction Programme)

1999 – 2007: Councillor Cancer Council of Victoria

Australian Medical Association (Victoria)

Dr Haikerwal was involved in the daily affairs of the Association and in representing Members of the AMA at local, State and Federal governmental levels. Dr Haikerwal had regular and direct interaction with the State Minister for Health and senior departmental officers.

Roles

2001 – 2003: President

1998 – 2001: Vice-President: Responsibility for General Practice.

1997 – 2001: General Practice affairs columnist: AMAV Journal (Vic Doc)

2000 – 2005: State Councillor representing Western Sub-division.

1995 – 2000: State Councillor, Representing Westgate Division of Family Medicine

1998 – 2001: Honorary Secretary, Section of General Practice

References

↑ "Haikerwal, Mukesh Chandra". Search Australian Honours. Australian Government. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
↑ 2.0 2.1 "Politics and the medicine man", The Age, 4 June 2005
↑ "Bashing of ex-AMA chief Mukesh Haikerwal one of five related", Herald Sun, 30 September 2008
↑ "Former AMA chief recovering from brutal bashing", ABC News, 30 September 2008