Pranab calls for humane healthcare

President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday expressed concern over certain institutions treating healthcare as a business rather than as a service.

Inaugurating the Indian Institute of Liver and Digestive Sciences at Sonarpur here, he said: “One thing which is missing in those providing healthcare is the attitude of providing service -- to serve the sick and to serve the needy with a human touch.”

He suggested that services to a patient should be provided with a smiling face as “a smiling face can cure half of the disease”.

While the President underlined the need for a human touch, he also asked the relatives of patients to desist from hooliganism, disruption and violence when patients are not cured in spite of the doctors’ best efforts.

“Patients too have some responsibilities. Relatives of patients too have some responsibilities. Vandalising hospitals, beating up doctors complaining of negligence when a patient dies are not acceptable and should not be done,” he said.

Praises Mamata

The President praised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for taking action when there were complaints about commercialisation of healthcare in the State.

Recently the West Bengal government passed a legislation bringing in checks on private healthcare institutions.

The Chief Minister, who was present at the event, expressed hope that it will provide healthcare to people at an affordable cost.