As healthcare systems across the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and other major destinations continue to grapple with workforce shortages, communication skills are increasingly being recognised as a critical clinical competency alongside technical expertise. 

Responding to this growing need, OET, a global leader in healthcare English language assessment, has partnered with the International Institute of Medical Sciences and Technical Council (IIMSTC), a professional body focused on advancing healthcare education and professional development, to help prepare India's healthcare professionals for international careers.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), OET and IIMSTC will jointly deliver educational programmes, workshops, faculty engagement initiatives and knowledge-sharing activities aimed at strengthening profession-specific healthcare communication skills across India's healthcare education ecosystem. 

By combining OET's global expertise in healthcare communication with IIMSTC's extensive network of healthcare institutions and professionals, the partnership aims to improve awareness of global healthcare communication standards, better prepare professionals for international practice, and contribute to stronger communication capabilities within India's domestic healthcare sector.

IIMSTC is a parastatal council comprising medical practitioners, educators, chancellors, vice chancellors, judicial officers and scientists, registered with India's Ministry of Corporate Affairs, NITI Aayog, MSME, Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Finance, among other bodies. 

The organisation maintains offices across the globe, including in New York, the Netherlands, South Korea, South Africa and Mozambique, and is connected with more than 100 prominent universities in India and abroad. The collaboration with OET is intended to leverage this network to reach the maximum number of healthcare students.

Amit Upadhyay, Regional Director for South Asia at OET, said effective communication is fundamental to quality healthcare delivery, and expressed enthusiasm about signing the MoU with IIMSTC to support Indian healthcare professionals preparing for global career opportunities. He said the partnership aims to equip more healthcare professionals with the communication skills needed to succeed across diverse healthcare environments worldwide.

Dr. Sreedhar Saraswathy, Chairman of IIMSTC, added that the organisation is committed to supporting healthcare professionals in achieving their academic and professional aspirations, and said the partnership with OET aligns with IIMSTC's mission to enhance professional readiness and build greater awareness of international opportunities available to healthcare graduates across its network.