As far-right violence escalates across the UK, Professor Mahendra Patel, Honorary Doctor of Health at the University of Bradford, has urged pharmacy teams
to uphold solidarity and professionalism, showing stability and fairness to provide the best care during these difficult times of public unrest.
Speaking to Pharmacy Business, Patel stressed the importance of valuing and respecting the diversity within the pharmacy profession while presenting a united
stance against racism and discrimination.
Violence erupted across the UK after rumours spread online that the suspect in the dance class stabbing attack in Southport last week was a Muslim and an immigrant.
This misinformation reportedly incited anger among far-right supporters, leading to clashes with anti-racism protesters over the weekend.
Commenting on the ongoing far-right riots across the UK, he stated: "What we are seeing is not normal behaviour by any means and it is clearly very frightening and
worrying for everyone with potentially huge impact on daily lives."
At present, this situation is particularly impacting individuals of the Muslim faith and Black ethnic minorities.
Senior academic pharmacist, Professor Mahendra Patel, recently received an award for his outstanding contribution and support for the Nigerian community
in the UK.
The Medical Association of Nigerians across GB (MANSAG) conducted its two-day annual General and Scientific Conference on October 27 and 28 in London.
The theme of the conference focussed on "Transforming Health Outcomes" to celebrate the contributions Nigerian doctors make to healthcare systems in the UK and
globally.
Dr Patel delivered an encouraging speech on "Leading Black And Minority Ethnic Population Research by BAME Researchers".
Three leading pharmacists - professor Mahendra Patel, Asif Aziz and Ade Williams - have been recognised in Queen Elizabeth's annual New Year's honours list.
Professor Patel, an academic pharmacist from West Yorkshire, was awarded an OBE for his "services to pharmacy." He told Pharmacy Business: "I am truly honoured and deeply humbled by this highly prestigious award that I have always believed was more deserving for others.
"That's not to say I'm not proud of it - far from it, although for me it's not necessarily about rewards and recognition but more the intricacies of the journey I embark on and the learning and joy that those encounters bring with it.
Most recently, Professor Patel - who has had a broad ranging portfolio career spanning community pharmacy, health education and health promotion, academia, and research - has been involved in promoting clinical trials across community pharmacies in the UK.
His latest work has seen him act as one of the national leads for the PRINCIPLE and PANORAMIC trials, run by Oxford University - both trials seek to pioneer repurposed and new drug treatments in the community to prevent hospitalisation due to Covid-19.
Professor Mahendra Patel OBE, CEO of the Oxford University Centre for Research Equity (CfRE), has been appointed as an independent expert member of the UK
Pharmacy Professional Leadership Advisory Board.
The newly established Board comprises nine independent expert members (IEMs) with outstanding leadership capabilities, who were appointed through open recruitment,
ensuring a "broad, balanced, and diverse" representation.
Sir Hugh Taylor KCB, the Independent Chair of the Board, and the UK Chief Pharmaceutical Officers (CPhOs) - Andrew Evans (Wales), Cathy Harrison (Northern Ireland),
Alison Strath (Scotland), and David Webb (England) - announced the appointment of IEMs in an open letter to the UK pharmacy professions.
"Bringing a wealth of experience and expertise, they will play a pivotal role in the Board's work to deliver an exciting vision through supporting a new and dynamic
phase of collaboration," the CPhOs said.
As the CEO of CfRE, Professor Patel spearheads efforts aimed at addressing inequalities in healthcare.
In a significant move to address health disparities and enhance clinical research, community pharmacies across several regions are set to become central
players in the Genes and Health study.
Led by Queen Mary University of London and funded by the Wellcome Trust, this national initiative aims to improve health outcomes within British-Bangladeshi
and British-Pakistani communities.
Professor Mahendra Patel, Director of the Centre for Research Equity at the University of Oxford, highlighted the importance of this approach.
"By engaging the broader pharmacy workforce, including technicians, we aim to establish a research-ready infrastructure within community pharmacies," Patel
told Pharmacy Business.
He shared that the initiative marks a transformative step in integrating pharmacies into the clinical research landscape.
The Thames Valley and South Midlands Clinical Research Network (CRN) is managing a pioneering pilot program for this study, which will initially focus on
pharmacies in Banbury, Oxford City, Reading, Slough, High Wycombe, and Aylesbury.