President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday said there was an urgent need to fill the gap between the available healthcare professionals and the demand in the country.
“There is an urgent need to reform medical education so as to create room for more colleges and more medical graduates,” he said at the inauguration of the Centenary Year of Medical Education of Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore.
“In India, we have 1.47 million undergraduate engineering seats, but only 67,352 undergraduate medical seats. About 20% of those seats were added in the past four years. As a country and a system, we need to address this gap quickly,” he said.
Tackling diseases
He observed that as societies evolved, economies develop and population patterns change, countries go through epidemiological transitions. “India too is experiencing such a transition. It is marked by three challenges in disease control. And we have to manage all three simultaneously,” he added.
First, he said, India has to reduce maternal and infant mortality as well as communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, vector-borne diseases such as malaria, water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoeal diseases, and vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and tetanus.
“Second, India has to find an answer to the rise in non-communicable or life-style diseases like diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases and cancer. And finally, we need to develop systems to detect and cope with new and re-emerging infectious diseases such as HIV, avian flu and H1N1 influenza,” Mr. Kovind said.
He noted how in a globalised world, with people travelling in and out of the country in larger numbers, a few cases can quickly scale up into a large outbreak. “This three-pronged challenge calls for interventions across the continuum of care. It calls for prevention of disease, promotion of good health practices and treatment and cure in case of an illness,” he said.
Meeting this challenge, he pointed out, needs a multi-stakeholder approach. He stressed that the government and civil society, private and public healthcare providers, charitable and economic institutions all have a role and a stake.
“The principles that must guide our philosophy of public health are equity and efficiency, quality and quantity, and access and affordability. Healthcare is above all else a service. Yes, it is also a business — but there is no greater business than saving a life,” he added.
‘Tamil Nadu a model’
Talking about how India has come a long way since being under colonial rule when health indices were very poor, he listed out that average life expectancy is now above 68 years and diseases such as polio and small pox had been defeated and immunisation programme was gaining strength.
“Primary and secondary healthcare facilities have undergone a change for the better. In this context, it must be said that the State of Tamil Nadu has exceptional health indicators and remains a model for our country. Institutions such as CMC, Vellore, have contributed to this deserved reputation,” Governor Banwarilal Purohit said.
He said doctors need a sharp mind – but much more than that, they need a warm heart.
‘An important centre’
Mr. Kovind said Tami Nadu has always been an important centre for medical diagnosis and treatment. “The State enjoys an impressive record in the reduction of infant mortality and maternal mortality rates. It ranks first in the country in terms of the number of children immunised,” he said.
The President noted that it has been estimated by the Confederation of Indian Industry that every year, about 15 lakh patients come to Tamil Nadu for medical diagnosis and treatment.
Calling CMC a model institution, Rajya Sabha’s Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said, “The institution deserves government support, encouragement and strengthening. Such an institution should flourish and government should strengthen and support it.” Commercial Taxes Minister K.C. Veeramani, CMC’s director J.V. Peter and principal Anna B. Pulimood were present.
The President later inaugurated a cardiothoracic surgery unit, cath lab and renal transplant unit at Sri Narayani Hospital and Research Centre. He planted saplings on the premises of the Golden Temple at Sripuram. He offered prayers at the temple and participated in a ‘yagam’.
