Dr Onkar Sahota (Past staff)

Biography

Onkar’s family arrived in the UK in the 1960’s and first lived in Hayes in the London Borough of Hillingdon. Originally from the Punjab, India, his parents settled in the UK to provide a better future for their children as with hundreds of other families of that generation.

His father first worked for British Airways at Heathrow as a maintenance worker, eventually establishing a local grocery business. His early experiences have instilled Onkar with a passion for ensuring opportunities for others to succeed, as well as the value of aspiration.

Fulfilling a lifelong ambition, Onkar graduated in Medicine 1989 from Sheffield University and specialised in Family Medicine post-graduation. He was elected Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners (FRCGP) in 2006.  He also holds an MBA from the London Business School and attended the John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University to study Health Policy.

A practicing GP, Onkar has been a family doctor in West London since 1989 and maintains GP surgeries in Hanwell and Southall serving some 10,000 patients. Like many clinicians who have been elected to public office, he continues to practice part-time to retain his licence to practice and keep in touch with issues that his patients encounter.

Professionally, Onkar in addition to his work as a family doctor was a member of the Ealing Primary Care Trust Professional Executive Committee from 2002-2008. From 1997 to 2000 he undertook work funded by the Department for International Development in Russia and Uzbekistan on reform of Primary Care, and advised the Heathrow City Regeneration Partnership on health and community projects.

All biographical information was supplied by the individual Assembly Member.

Responsibilities for 2023-24

Deputy Chair of the London Assembly.

Chair of the Health Committee.

Member of the Environment Committee.

Member of the Confirmation Hearings Committee.

Member of the GLA Oversight Committee.

Key issues

• Health
• Economy
• Transport