Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Aug 11: Centenary celebrations of Delhi Medical Association (DMA) took off at Vigyan Bhavan here today with a formal inauguration by Union Minister for Finance and Defence Arun Jaitley . Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan was the chief guest while Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, MoS in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Space & Atomic Energy, Dr Jitendra Singh was the guest of honour. A public awareness poster on lifestyle diseases was also released on the occasion.
In his inaugural address, Jaitley said that the shortfall in the number of doctors in several medical institutions was a consequence of the fact that when the era of reforms began in the early 1990’s in India, somehow the areas of Education and Medical Education got overlooked from the process of reforms.
Jaitley said, the over all cost of treatment in India is much lesser compared to that in other countries although it may appear high in the context of the lower paying capacity of an average Indian.
Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan referred to several past Presidents of Delhi Medical Association over the last 100 years since its inception in 1914 and said it is a unique distinction of Delhi Medical Association that it is older than even Indian Medical Association. He strongly advised that black sheep in the profession should be exposed to restore the credibility of medical professionals.
Dr Jitendra Singh, while speaking on the occasion said, it is not the medical practice per se which creates confrontation in society but it is the mal-practice by some which brings bad name. Citing the example of legendary physician Dr B C Roy, he recalled that Dr B C Roy used to charge a hefty consultation fee of Rs. 66 way back in 1940s when Rs 66 was too exorbitant, but nobody grudged Dr Roy because of his fair and compassionate approach towards the patient.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that in the years to come, the major problem will be huge deficit of specialist and super specialist faculty in Government Medical Institutes for which enhancement of retirement age or reemployment of retired professionals are only adhoc measures. He also called upon the medical professional to make use of the immense research potential available in Science, Technology and Bio-Technology Departments under him particularly to work in new areas like Stem Cell and Genes.
Several eminent Doctors including Dr Choubey, Surgeon, Dr Trehan, Cardiac Surgeon, Dr Kler, Cardiac Surgeon and Dr Sareen, Liver Surgeon were honoured on the occasion.
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