Dr. Virendra Singh – MD of Asthma Bhawan, Jaipur

Medical Qualifications

MBBS & MD (1971 to 1980): SMS Medical College, Jaipur
Respiratory Fellowship: City Hospital, Nottingham, UK (1988 to 1989)

Specialization and Expertise

Asthma
Allergy
Lung
COPD
Ex. Superintendent, SMS Hospital, Head & Senior Professor Division of Allergy & Pulmonary Medicine, SMS Medical College, Jaipur.

Memberships & Certifications

Indian Medical Association

Awards and Achievement

ACHIEVEMENTS –

1. Inventions
Invented three instruments for the care of respiratory patients. The importance of this equipment has been documented in various scientific studies published in national and international journals. Following are the inventions.

• The pink city flows meter: It is equipment to measure the severity of asthma and smoking-induced lung disease. (Invention Patent No. 160580/86). Published in: Invention Intelligence: Jan 1991:35-37
• Pink city lung exerciser: It is equipped to perform yogic breathing exercises. Useful in asthma and other respiratory diseases. (Invention Patent No. 160764/86). Published in: Am Review Resp Disease 1990;141:A24, J Asthma 1987;24:355-59
• Hydration attachment to lung exerciser: With Lung Exerciser, this invention improves symptoms and lung functions in asthmatic patients. (Patent No. 164780/87) Published in: J Asthma 1987;24:355-59

2. Discoveries 

A. New nervous reflex: Discovered a nervous reflex explains patency of nostril. Published in: J Appl. Physiology 1987:62:91-94; Yearbook of Pulmonary Diseases 1988-PP 34-35. This discovery was also included and appreciated in the yearbook of pulmonary medicine.

B. Evolved a hypothesis: Asthma and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) are closely linked but the mechanism was poorly understood. We discovered the mechanism. It was published in the leading international journal of asthma as the original article and commendable remarks were made in the editorial of the journal. This hypothesis was proved in the subsequent western studies. The hypothesis was considered a landmark discovery and was discussed in the editorials of the top international journals with commendable remarks. Published in: J. Asthma 1983; 20:241-43; Annals of Allergy 1985; 55:344. In editorial of J. Asthma 1983;20:237-38 and Am Rev Respir Dis 1990;141:1391-92, Respiratory Medicine Book by Murray &NadelIInd Edition Vol.2 Pg.2424

C. Provided scientific proof that yogic breathing pranayama improves asthma: “Yoga improves asthma” was believed but could not be proved in authentic scientific studies therefore at the international level; yoga was never advised in the treatment of asthma. We carried out authentic studies including the first double-blind placebo-controlled study of yoga. These studies showed that yoga improved asthma. Published in J. Asthma 1987;24:355-59; J. Asthma 1987;24:183-86; LANCET 1990;335:1381-83; Am Review Resp Disease 1990;141:A24, GINA guidelines for Asthma Management 2002 Pg. 114, Chest (India Edition) 2002; 3: 295.

D. New test to detect the effect of pollution on healthy people: It is difficult to detect the effect of traffic pollution on the lungs of healthy people. We discovered that peak flow variability testing increases in people exposed to vehicular pollution.
Published in: J Asthma 2003;4:81-86.

E. New mechanism in the pathogenesis of asthma: Allergens cause asthma by inducing inflammation in airway mucosa. However, still it is not known why airway inflammation persists despite the removal of allergens. We discovered that friction generated during activities causing fast breathing such as coughing may be very high and it may cause injury to airway mucosa. Repeated mucosal injury during coughing in asthmatic airways continues airway inflammation. Published in: Am Rev Respir Dis: 1993;147:A832; J Asthma 1999;36:419-426; JAPI 2000;48:501-504; JAPI 2000;48:343-45.

3. Public Welfare Works 
A. Asthma education in India: An asthmatic patient passes through phases of well-again and sick-again cycles. These phases are quite painful and the patient stops treatment out of frustration, to suffer from agony further. Simple measures of lifestyle modification and learning about the nature of the disease can protect a patient from the agony of recurrent attacks of asthma. We designed programs of asthmatic style. It is now available in nine Indian languages and available free of cost on the website wwwasthmacure.com.
B. Crusade against tobacco: In order to fight against tobacco we established the Indian asthma care society (IACS) which has launched sustained efforts against tobacco. Pamphlets, booklets, hoardings, audiovisual slides, and CD programs were designed and lacs of people benefited. Indian asthma care society has launched many writ petitions in the courts and persuaded authorities which helped in the formation of antitobacco laws. As a result of one writ petition of IACS in the supreme court, Gutakha was banned in the country.
C. Asthma Bhawan (Jaipur), a charitable center of excellence was constructed by IACS. It serves for research and treatment of asthma and tobacco-induced diseases.
Children’s motivation for honesty: In order to motivate children to imbibe good moral character a program based on the principles of Mahatma Gandhi was designed and named “Satviktaekpahal”.Monthly programs are organized for the last 5 years for school children.

4. Capability of Motivating People
Worked as superintendent of SMS Hospital since 1st July 2012. During this tenure, the hospital became the biggest hospital in the country with the highest number of OPD patients (over 25 lacs) and a number of investigations (over 45 lacs). The number of CT scans done in one day made a world record in Limca’s book.
The heavy rush was tackled by the motivation of staff through individual and group meetings. Staff infighting was tackled with regular discussions. Mistakes committed by employees were addressed by the innovative method of prayashchit, practiced by Gandhi ji. The habits of addictions such as tobacco chewing, smoking, and alcohol use were also addressed through innovative skills. The problem of the strike was tackled with help of the public of Jaipur. People volunteered to work in the hospital and did work computer, trolley pulling, and even cleaning.
Result of these steps: now the majority of employees are duty-bound, left addictions, and ignore petty quarrels. It leads to effective patient care despite the heavy patient load. The hospital has also been awarded the prestigious national computer award.

Awards

The works of Dr. Virendra Singh have been acknowledged by the following awards:

• Independence Day Award of National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) (15th August 1989): Award of Govt of India of Rs. 50,000/- given for the best invention in the country (Pink City Flow Meter).
• Cash merit (15th Aug 1990): Award of Rs.15, 000/- of Govt. of Rajasthan: Given for inventions and discoveries. (The highest cash merit award ever given)
  Association of Physicians of India (January 1991): E Merck Award for presenting the best paper in Chest diseases at API conference.
• National Academy of Medical Sciences Award (1990-91): Dr. S Saxena Memorial Award for the best bio-engineering work in the country (Pink City Lung Exerciser)
• Lectureship award of API (1992): KGPB Memorial Award for the best publications in the country in the field of asthma and bronchitis. Awarded by API.
• Hari Om Alembic research BC Roy award (1990) for the best fundamental research work in the country in the field of medical sciences. It was given by the President of India Sh. Shankar Dayalji Sharma.
• Nahar Samman Purskar (1993): Given by the Rajasthani welfare association, Mumbai for outstanding research in medical sciences.
• Sarabhai Oration Award(1995): Given by API for the best work in the field of chest diseases in the country.
• SMS Medical College Golden Jubilee award (1997): For outstanding work in medicine.