Crossing Continents, Healing Communities: The Story of Dr. Shiv Pande

Dr. Shiv Pande MBE DL FRCGP, born on October 25, 1938, in central India, rose from modest roots in Mumbai to become one of Britain’s most respected physician-leaders. He earned his medical degrees in India—an MBBS (1962) and an MS in surgery—from Vikram University in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India. In 1971, Dr. Pande moved to Britain to further his surgical training. He later said he felt “honoured and excited” to serve the people of northwest England.

Surgical Training and Early Career in Britain

After arriving in the UK, Dr. Shiv Pande completed two years of surgical training. He began in the Accident & Emergency department at the Royal Albert Infirmary, Wigan, and then became a registrar in cardiothoracic surgery at the London Chest Hospital. By 1974, he had held positions at Liverpool’s Broadgreen and Fazakerley hospitals. These early years in hospital practice laid the foundation for his later move into general practice.

General Practice and Community Service in Liverpool

In 1975, after settling in Liverpool with his family, Dr. Shiv Pande chose to pursue a career in general practice. He completed his vocational GP training in the city and took charge of an established clinic, becoming a single-handed GP. By 1981, he had acquired a second practice, further expanding his reach. A true pioneer of community-oriented care, Dr. Pande was the first single-handed GP in Liverpool to employ a practice nurse—an innovative step that enabled him to introduce enhanced services such as child health clinics and vaccination programs, catering to the needs of his diverse patient population.

For thirty years, Dr. Pande served as a beloved physician in some of Liverpool’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods. His civic work was just as impactful. Beginning in 1982, he established the Liverpool Faith Network to foster interfaith dialogue. He also served for 24 years as a magistrate (Justice of the Peace in Liverpool). In 2002, his years of service were formally recognized when he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside.

Media Outreach and Public Education

Dr. Shiv Pande became a familiar face on British television through Aap Kaa Hak (“This Is Your Right”)—a citizens’ rights and consumer advocacy program for the South Asian community—on Granada TV. He presented the show for 14 years, from 1980 to 1994. With a wide-reaching audience across the North West, the program played a crucial role in closing information gaps for immigrant households. On this Hindi/Urdu-language show, he answered health and welfare questions alongside legal experts offering advice to Asian viewers.

His media work also helped him bring other health professionals into community care. He included dieticians and social workers in his practice, providing family planning and immunization services. Dr. Pande also broadcast on BBC North West TV and BBC Radio Merseyside, further extending his outreach. Through these platforms, he educated and empowered immigrant communities on healthcare and rights, staying true to his belief that a doctor’s role goes far beyond the clinic.

Leadership in Medical Organizations

Beyond clinical and media work, Dr. Shiv Pande became an influential leader among migrant doctors. He served as Chairman of the British International Doctors’ Association (BIDA), formerly known as the Overseas Doctors Association, where he advocated for foreign-qualified practitioners in the NHS. In 1999, he made history as the first ethnic-minority doctor elected Treasurer of the UK’s General Medical Council (GMC).

In these leadership roles, he tackled policy issues that affected international doctors. One of his most significant contributions came in 1996, when he organized and supervised the first administration of the GMC’s PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board) exam in India. This move allowed thousands of Indian medical graduates to take the licensing test in their home country instead of traveling to Britain. It was a milestone that helped democratize access and remove financial and logistical barriers for many aspiring doctors.

Humanitarian and Cultural Initiatives

Dr. Shiv Pande also brought together his love of cricket and passion for charity through high-profile fundraisers. In 1984, he arranged for India’s World Cup–winning cricketers to coach unemployed youth in Liverpool during a tour. A year later, he formed a combined India–Pakistan XI to play a “Rest of the World” team at Old Trafford. The event raised £20,000 for Mother Teresa’s charity and the orphans of the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster.

Dr. Shiv Pande personally handed over the funds to Mother Teresa and then Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. He continued this spirit of service in 1993 by organizing relief fundraising for the victims of the Latur earthquake. His efforts even earned the support of Prince Charles, who hosted a reception to boost the cause.

Closer to home, Dr. Pande used sport to unite grieving communities. He organized memorial matches and cricket coaching sessions after tragedies, such as games in honor of Anthony Walker, a victim of racial violence. He also brought international players to train local youth. These efforts reflected his deep commitment to social harmony and generosity through sport and community action.

Honors, Awards, and Legacy

Dr. Shiv Pande’s broad-ranging contributions have earned him numerous honors. In 1989, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to medicine. In 2002, he became Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside. His lifetime of service was recognized with awards from Lloyds TSB in 2004 and the Royal College of General Practitioners in 2014. In 2015, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) awarded him an honorary fellowship, calling him “a dedicated medical practitioner, tireless charity campaigner, accomplished broadcaster and distinguished academic” and “a superb role model for any citizen of multicultural Britain.”

He has also served as a visiting professor at Gauhati University in India and at the University of Bolton, sharing his ethical insights and leadership experience with students.

Colleagues and civic leaders frequently speak of Dr. Pande’s humility, compassion and deep commitment to the community. When he received Liverpool’s Citizen of Honour award, he thanked the city for the “affection, respect and love” he had received over five decades. The Lord Mayor of Liverpool remarked that Dr. Pande’s “kindness and compassion” went far beyond medicine, noting that many residents had known him as their doctor from childhood through adulthood.

As Dr. Shiv Pande once said, “Medicine is not just about curing illness. It’s about building trust, healing communities, and giving people hope.” His life and work reflect that philosophy, leaving behind a legacy of bridge-building—across cultures, across generations, and across professions. Dr. Shiv Pande’s remarkable journey stands as proof of how one committed physician can enrich an entire society, living out the true spirit of the NHS.

References:

1. Asian Lite News. “Liverpool Honours Prof. Shiv Pande.” Asian Lite, March 9, 2021.
   https://asianlite.com/2021/uk-news/liverpool-honours-prof-shiv-pande/

2. BBC Radio Merseyside. The Asian Connection. Interview with Dr. Shiv Pande, June 2003. Accessed July 12, 2025.

3. GP Online. “Interview: ‘I Was the First Single-Handed GP in Liverpool to Employ a Practice Nurse.’” GP Online, April 26, 2018.
   https://www.gponline.com/interview-i-first-single-handed-gp-liverpool-employ-practice-nurse/article/1463163

4. India Today. “Indian-Origin Doctor Honoured for Making Exceptional Contribution to Liverpool City.” India Today, August 13, 2022.
   https://www.indiatoday.in/world/indians-abroad/story/indian-origin-doctor-honoured-exceptional-contribution-to-liverpool-city-1987470-2022-08-12

5. Liverpool Express. “Dr Shiv Pande Awarded Citizen of Honour.” Liverpool Express, August 8, 2022.
   https://liverpoolexpress.co.uk/dr-shiv-pande-awarded-citizen-of-honour/

6. Pande, Shiv. Interview by BBC Radio Merseyside. The Asian Connection, June 2003. Accessed July 12, 2025.

7. Royal College of General Practitioners. “Professor Shiv Pande.” RCGP Annual Conference 2025.
   https://www.rcgpac.org.uk/dr-shiv-pande

8. Simpson, Julian M. Migrant Architects of the NHS: South Asian Doctors and the Reinvention of British General Practice (1940s–1980s). Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2018.
   https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526115782/

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