Alexander Thomas

Background

About Alexander Thomas

Founder and Patron of AHPI,ANBAI, and CAHO. He played a significant part in incorporating healthcare communication among the NABH Accreditation Standards for Hospitals (4th Edition), introducing communication skills within the MBBS and PG curricula for medical students across India, rolling back the service tax for the health sector and making assaults on doctors a non-bailable offence. He led the expert group on medical education for the NEP (2019) headed by Dr. Kasturirangan. He initiated the creation of a national Think Tank on Health at the NLSIU.He was responsible for the founding of Vayah Vikas, an organisation focused on the wellbeing of senior citizens. He is a member of the Health Insurance Consultative Committee constituted by the IRDAI, GOI and member of the joint working group of the NHA and IRDAI for health claim exchanges by the MOHFW. At the State level, Dr. Thomas played an important role in developing the Karnataka State Public Health Policy as the Member-Secretary of its Task Force. He is currently the Chair of the SDG 3 (Health) Sub-Committee of the GOI (incidentally the only non-IAS officer to head such a committee).He has edited several publications, Communicate. Care. Cure. A Guide to Healthcare Communication (3rd Edition) Climate Change and the Health Sector: Healing the World and the Handbook of Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety (3rd Edition); Health Law and Ethics: Critical Reflections (with NLSIU); Perils in Practice: The Prevention of Violence Against Healthcare Professionals (with IMA); In Sound Health: A Handbook on Sound, Music and Health; The Future of Healthcare: Transforming with Technology and Embracing the Golden Years, A guide to Happy & Healthy Aging/ A Guidebook for Older Adults.During the Covid crisis, Dr. Thomas, through the state chapters of AHPI, worked closely with the Central government, State governments and NGOs to support India’s battle against the pandemic by helping set up dedicated COVID hospitals with ICU beds and ventilators, organising training, equipment, supplies, vaccine distribution, and resources, including the provision of oxygen concentrators and generation plants. Dr. Thomas’ contributions to the medical profession were recognised by the IMA, who conferred upon him the IMA Dr. M. G. Garg All-Time Achievement Award for Outstanding and Distinguished Services, Dr. Thomas was awarded the Waterfalls Global Award (2022) by the Government of the United Arab Emirates, one of only 15 global winners.