Source: Asian Voice
Last week, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society released the names of their new Fellows – one of the highest honours that can be bestowed upon society members. It recognises the disctinction RPS Members have attained in a particular aspect or aspects of their pharmacy career. As Fellowships are based on nominations from Members, it also signifies the esteem in which members are held by their peers, and as such is a mark of achievement which all Members should aspire to. In 2013, the Panel of Fellows appointed 44 new Societs Fellows, 27 of these were appointed in November and consisted of three Indians. They are: Raj Aggarwal, Umesh Patel and Bharat Shah.
Raj Aggarwal is a Community Pharmacist in Cardiff and Managing Director of Aggarwal Group and was in senior management with Boots PLC until 1983, managing large stores throughout the country. He is a Board Member of National Pharmacy Association, Community Pharmacy Wales and Chairman of the South East region. Raj has freely given of his time for philanthropic activity and is Chairman of Kidney Wales Foundation and was awarded an OBE in 2007 for services to pharmacy, the Asian community and charitable services.
Umesh Patel, who hails from Bhadran, lives in Sunderland and is an NPA nominee on PSNC as well as owning two independent community pharmacies and representing the North East region on the NPA board. He works tirelessly to represent pharmacies both in his area and beyond and he was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 2011 New Year’s Honours List, recognising his services to healthcare in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.
Bharat Shah, the managing director of Sigma Pharmaceuticals, has led Sigma, a licensed pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor of generic and branded medicines which he set up over 25 years ago, through a challenging recession. He has also tirelessly campaigned for action to solve the drugs shortage on behalf of independent community pharmacists and patients across the UK.