Biography
Dr Virendra Singh
Asthma Specialist
Ex. Superintendent, SMS Hospital, Head & Senior Professor Division of Allergy &
Pulmonary Medicine, SMS Medical College, Jaipur.
Chief Editor, Lung India
National Coordinator ILD India Registry
Education: MBBS & MD (1971 to 1980): SMS Medical College, Jaipur
Respiratory Fellowship: City Hospital, Nottingham, UK (1988 to 1989)
Achievements
1. INVENTIONS
Invented three instruments for care of respiratory patients. Importance of these
equipments has been documented in various scientific studies published in national and
international journals. Following are the inventions.
 Pink city flow meter: It is an equipment to measure 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 an equipment 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 explain patency of nostril.
Published in: J Appl. Physiology 1987:62:91-94; Year book of Pulmonary Diseases
1988-PP 34-35.This discovery was also included and appreciated in the year book of
pulmonary medicine.
B. Evolved a hypothesis: Asthma and gastro esophageal 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 international level; yoga was never advised in treatment of asthma. We
carried-out the authentic studies including the first double blind placebo controlled
study of the 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 effect of pollution on healthy people: It is difficult to detect 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 pathogenesis of asthma: Allergens cause asthma by inducing
inflammation in airway mucosa. However, still it is not known why airway
inflammationpersists despite 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 wellagain and sick-again cycles. These phases are quite painful and 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 website wwwasthmacure.com.
B. Crusade against tobacco:In order to fight against tobacco we established Indian
asthma care society (IACS) which has launched sustained efforts against
tobacco. Pamplets, booklets, hordings, audiovisual slides and CD programs were
designed and lacs of people have been benefited. Indian asthma care society has
launched many writ petitions in the courts and persuaded authorities which
helped in formation of antitobacco laws. As a result of one of writ petition of
IACS in the supreme court, Gutakha was banned in the country.
Asthma Bhawan, a charitable center of excellence was constructed by IACS. It
serving for research and treatment of asthma and tobacco induced diseases.
C. Children motivation for honesty: In order to motivate children to imbibe good
moral character a program based on principles of Mahtma Gandhi was designed
and named “Satviktaekpahal”.Monthly programs are organised for last 5 years
for school children.
4. CAPABILITY OF MOTIVATING PEOPLE
Worked as superintendent of SMS Hospital since 1st July 2012.During the tenure the
hospital became the biggest hospital of the country with highest number of OPD patients
(over 25 lacs) and number of investigations (over 45 lacs). The number CT scans done
in one day made a world record in Limca book.
The heavy rush was tackled by motivation of staff through individual and group
meetings. Staff infighting were tackled with regular discussions. Mistake committed by
employees were addressed by 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 strike was tackled with help of
public of Jaipur. People volunteered to work in the hospital and did work of computer,
trolley pulling and even cleaning.
Result of these steps: now majority of employees are duty-bound, left addictions and
ignore petty quarrel. It leads to effective patient care despite of heavy patient load. The
hospital has also been awarded the prestigious national computer award.
T
AWARDS
The works of Dr Virendra Singh have been acknowledged by following awards:
1. Independence Day Award ofNational 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).
2. Cash merit (15th Aug 1990): Awardof Rs.15, 000/- of Govt. of Rajasthan: Given
on for inventions and discoveries. (The highest cash merit award ever given)
3. Association of Physicians of India (January 1991):E Merck Awardfor presenting
the best paper in the Chest diseases at API conference.
4. National Academy of Medical Sciences Award (1990-91): Dr S Saxena Memorial
Awardfor the best bio-engineering work in the country (Pink City Lung Exerciser)
5. Lectureship award of API (1992): KGPB Memorial Award for the best
publications in the country in field of asthma and bronchitis. Awarded by API.
6. Hari Om Alembic research BC Roy award (1990) for the best fundamental research
work in the country in field of medical sciences. It was given by the President of
IndiaSh. Shankar Dayalji Sharma.
7. NaharSammanPurskar (1993): Given by Rajasthani welfare association, Mumbai
for outstanding research in medical sciences.
8. Sarabhai Oration Award(1995): Given by API for the best work in the field of
chest diseases in the country.
9. SMSMedicalCollege Golden Jubilee award (1997): For outstanding work in
medicine.