Satendra Singh (doctor)

Dr Satendra Singh
Dr Satendra Singh with the Henry Viscardi achievement award
NationalityIndian
EducationMBBS, MD
Alma materGanesh Shankar Vidhyarthi Memorial Medical College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
OrganizationUniversity College of Medical Sciences
Known forDisability rights activism

Dr Satendra Singh is a medical doctor at the University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, Delhi. A physiologist by profession, Singh contracted poliomyelitis at the age of nine months but went on to complete a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College, Kanpur and later on Doctor of Medicine in Physiology. He is the first-ever Indian to win the prestigious Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards given to extraordinary leaders in the global disability community.[1]

Singh is a noteworthy disability activist who is known for his sustained efforts to make public places, employment opportunities and voting rights accessible for disabled persons.[2] For his body of work, he received a National Award by the President of India.[3] Singh is also the first Indian to be awarded the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics fellowship at the University of Chicago.[4][5]

Singh had been involved in the synthesis of epibatidine analogues, leading to the discovery of epiboxidine.[6] In contrast to RTI-336, which positions a 3-tolyl group on the isoxazole ring to the DAT receptor, a phenyl group was too sterically encumbered to be tolerated in the case of the nicotinic receptors. Although aromatic moieties seem to be tolerated at the mGlu5 receptor in the case of ADX-47273.

Singh is known not only for advocating for his own disability rights, but also for his work to protect other disabled doctors' rights. He raised public awareness regarding the discrimination by UPSC which disallowed doctors with disabilities to apply for various Central Health Services (CHS) employment positions. Dr. Singh, himself, was rejected in 2014 but challenged the rejection and was later allowed to appear for the interview.[7][8] In 2013, his application was once again rejected and he highlighted the same discrimination was present in other job posts, for the second time.[9] He was subsequently allowed to apply in a quick intervention.[10]

Singh's RTI revealed that doctors with disabilities are not considered eligible for specialist CHS posts in teaching, non-teaching as well as public health specialties. Undeterred, he complained again and requested the health ministry to allow all eligible doctors with disabilities to apply for these posts. Dr. Singh's single-handed relentless fight for justice over four years ultimately forced the Health Ministry to make 1,674 specialist central posts available for disabled doctors.[11]

  1. ^ "Disability rights activist awarded in US". Times News Network. 7 December 2017.
  2. ^ "They innovate to e-nable". The Times of India. 15 August 2013. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013.
  3. ^ "7 officials, NGO from Delhi get 'Best Electoral Practices Awards-2020'". Daily Pioneer.
  4. ^ "Punjab Kesari Youth Today, 25-06-2019 Punjab Kesari Youth Today : readwhere". mpaper.punjabkesari.com.
  5. ^ "Our Alumni: 2018-2019 | The MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics". macleanethics.uchicago.edu.
  6. ^ SINGH, Satendra; AVOR, Kwasi S.; POUW, Buddy; SEALE, Thomas W.; BASMADJIAN, Garo P. (1999). "Design and Synthesis of Isoxazole Containing Bioisosteres of Epibatidine as Potent Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Agonists". Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 47 (10): 1501–1505. doi:10.1248/cpb.47.1501. ISSN 0009-2363. PMID 10553647.
  7. ^ "M.S.J.E. doesn't consider disabled doctors fit for teaching jobs". D.N.I.S. 1 March 2011.
  8. ^ "UPSC discriminating against me, alleges differently-abled doctor". The Hindu. 10 November 2013.
  9. ^ "Rejected by UPSC twice, physically challenged doctor battles for justice". 8 November 2013.
  10. ^ "Success for Dr Singh, but other physically challenged doctors still in lurch". India Medical Times. 14 November 2013.
  11. ^ "One man's crusade opens up CHS jobs for disabled doctors". The Times of India. 14 June 2015.