IN July 2015, Dr Abdul Atif took over as principal medical provider of the Nagambie Medical Centre (NMC) Church Street Country Practice.

Dr Atif has been in the Nagambie Medical practice for over seven years and has been a strong member of the medical profession in the community and Nagambie Healthcare facilities next door.

He was joined by Dr Nahida Khan in 2016 and they and the centre's staff have been providing continuity to their clients and service providers that is required in a small country practice.

Over the past two years the COVID–19 virus pandemic has affected this small country medical practice and the shortage of doctors in rural areas has also impacted on the practice.

It has created extra work for the medicos and staff and now two new doctors are replacing ones who have left.

Dr Abdul Atif and Dr Nahida Khan and the NMC team recently welcomed two new doctors to help lift and share the load since the departure of Dr Sabah Nazir in December 2021.

Recently, the Nagambie Medical practice welcomed two new doctors to the community orientated practice.

Doctor Achini Perera is currently working as a general practice registrar part time at Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Nagambie Medical Centre.

Doctor Perera completed her internship and graduated in Sri Lanka and migrated to Australia about six years ago with the family.

She started working in hospitals after completing all AMC exams.

She previously worked at Mercy Health and Barwon Health and started working as a general practitioner last year in Wangaratta.

Her qualifications include – MBBS, DRANZCOG (diploma in women's health), diploma in child health, final year of GP training towards the fellowship this year with RACGP

Doctor Perera is currently living in Melbourne with children (five years and 18 months), her husband and her mother.

Her professional interests are women's health/antenatal shared care, child health and mental health and her personal ones are: travelling, cycling, crafts and spending time with her children.

The second doctor to begin his country practice work is Dr Muhammad Salman, but his preferred name is Salman.

Dr Salman graduated in 2013.

In Australia, he has worked at Goulburn Valley Health, Shepparton and different hospitals under Western Health, including Sunshine, Footscray and Williamstown hospitals from 2018 until 2022.

He has worked in a range of various specialities and gained a breadth of experience over this period.

He has also completed a diploma in child health due to his special interest in paediatrics.

In his free time, he likes to exercise and spend time with his family.

He has a very active toddler and will soon have another addition to his family.

Like Dr Atif and Dr Khan at NMC, they both have a family and will juggle their new jobs with family and social commitments.

Each of the professional NMC doctors brings their own expertise, bedside manner and experience to the practice.

Dr Atif is confident Nagambie residents will make both new doctors feel welcome as they have the other doctors who have joined his practice over the past seven years.

The new doctors have been spending some quality time getting to know the patients they have seen so far.

The team of four highly professional and experienced doctors and their staff offer good health services to all those in the community.

For appointments call 5794 1816.

The friendly staff will provide assistance for your medical needs.