Satendra Singh (doctor)

Dr Satendra Singh
Dr Satendra Singh getting disability award
Nationality	India
Education	MBBS, MD
Organization	University College of Medical Sciences

Dr Satendra Singh is a medical doctor at the University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, Delhi. A physiologist by profession, he contracted poliomyelitis at the age of 9 months but went on to complete Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and later on Doctor of Medicine in Physiology. He has also done the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) fellowship. He is a noted disability activist especially for his sustained efforts in making public places accessible for disabled persons.

Unlocked Central posts for doctors with disability

The disabled fighter fought not only for his but other disabled doctor’s rights. He also brought into open the discrimination by UPSC which disallowed doctors with disability to apply for various Central Health Services (CHS) posts. He himself was rejected in 2011 but fought and was later allowed to appear for the interview. In 2013, his application was again rejected when he highlighted that the same discrimination was also present for the other posts. He was allowed to apply in a quick intervention. His RTI revealed that doctors with disabilities are not considered eligible for specialist CHS posts in teaching, non-teaching as well as public health specialist cadres. Undeterred, he complained again and requested the health ministry to allow all eligible doctors with disability to apply for these posts. His single handed relentless fight for justice over four years ultimately forced Health Ministry to unlock 1,674 specialist central posts for disabled doctors.

Accessibility of all the medical institutions in India

On his petition the Court of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India instructed Medical Council of India to issue directives to all the medical institutions in India to be disabled-friendly. Despite these efforts, most medical institutions have yet to comply with the directions. His black armband protest on the United Nations' International Day of Persons with Disabilities in 2012 led authorities to construct ramps outside all the hostels at his medical college.