Update | Bioprist Institute of Medical Sciences pledges $1m boost to cops’ children studying medicine
Published:Tuesday | February 21, 2023 | 1:13 AMJanet Silvera/Senior Gleaner Writer
Bioprist Institute of Medical Sciences has pledged $4 million in financial aid - $1 million per year for the duration of their studies - to each child of any police officer in Jamaica who decides to study medicine.
The student, however, must maintain a good grade point average (GPA), while the aid is tenable at the institution based at the Grand Ridge Medical City in Ironshore, Montego Bay, St James, says Bioprist's chief executive officer and founder, Dr Guna Muppuri.
He was speaking at a St James Police Recognition and Awards Ceremony at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James last Saturday.
“To the families of police officers, you are indeed a real big deal, accepting of the sacrifices your loved ones make while they protect this country,” the medical doctor, who has lived in Jamaica since 1992, said as he embraced the evening's theme, 'You Are a Big Deal'.
“We owe you and your beloved family members our gratitude, respect, and support. It's against this background why we are making this pledge … to invest in education,” he told the men and women of steel in the convention ballroom.
“Your mom, dad, brother, and sister go to work every day, unsure of their safe return home,” he added.
According to him, the members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force put their lives on the line to protect the country and their families are owed and should be acknowledged.
Underscoring the pressures that the police come under regularly, Muppuri appealed to loved ones to be understanding of the mood swings that their family members experience as they navigate what can be a stressful profession.
He pledged that his organisation would also continue to support law enforcement officers as it relates to health and wellness and as he did throughout the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He was quick to point out that healthy officers are critical to building healthy and safe communities, adding that good mental and psychological health is just as essential as good physical health.
“For law enforcement officers to be effective in keeping our country and our communities safe from crime and violence, we must ensure their health are taken care of. Healthy officers are critical to building healthy and safe communities,” said Muppuri.
The Bioprist Group is centred around pharmaceuticals and healthcare consumer products and development of special economic zones.
Two years ago, the company entered into a memorandum of understanding with The University of the West Indies to commit to the training of healthcare practitioners and the development of medical tourism-related activities.
Muppuri, in the meantime, said that his company continues to maintain an interest in delving deeper into tourism from a medical standpoint, noting that the market has been expanding worldwide. He further added that Jamaica is ripe as a location for medical education and medical tourism.
“The global market for medical education is strong and the market for medical tourism is also exhibiting excellent growth. It is our commitment to substantially advance Jamaica's medical education and medical tourism in the global market,” he added.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Dr Muppuri has clarified that the offer is open to children of cops across the island and at $1 million per year per child if the criteria are met.