Bangalore: Doctors need to serve people better, says Dr Abdul Kalam
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Feb 21: All doctors, especially medical graduates, need to have two hearts – a bigological heart like all human beings and a kind heart to reach out to the 700 million people living in rural areas and serve in the rural primary health care centres, said former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam.
Generosity, ethics, tolerance, perseverance, concentration and intelligence are the six basic virtues that all medical professionals must have, he said in his address to the graduating students of St John’s Medical College of the National Academy of Health Sciences in Bangalore on Wednesday.
As many as 180 MBBS graduates, Paramedical graduates and Postgraduate/super specialty graduates were awarded certificates at a glittering ceremony at St John’s College of Nursing Auditorium by Dr Kalam and the Emeritus Archbishop of Bangalore Dr Alphonsus Mathias presided over the function.
Dr Kalam underscored the importance of research in the health sciences and the potential co-operation between nanotechnology and biotechnology.
The former President lauded the services and contribution of the former chief of Karnataka Health Task Force Dr H Sudarshan in the tribal areas of BR Hills through his band of dedicated workers and the pioneering work of late Dr G Venkataswamy for the elimination of blindness by establishing the Aravind Hospital and its eye-care system, which are shining examples of how dedicated medical practitioners can do wonders and improve the lives of the people.
Dr Prem Pais, Dean of St Johns Medical College, presented the annual report of the Institution and highlighted its contribution over the past 50 years of its existence. He outlined the efforts made by the institution to introduce problem-based learning and research methodology training to medical students in order for them to become excellent and caring professionals in future.
He proudly stated the fact that St Johns Medical College has produced 6 Rhode scholars, more than any other medical college in India and said the St John’s Hospital will continue to build up its super-specialty departments. It has added a new comprehensive cancer centre – the St Johns Oncology centre - this year.
Other unique aspects of the institution, according to Dr Pais include the full fledged St Johns Research Institute, services for the elderly and for children with disability with almost Rs 8.5 crore worth of free and concessional care being given to the poor and needy in the past year.
The golden jubilee of the institution will be commemorated with the addition of a block which will house a unique ''knowledge centre” with a clinical skills laboratory and other facilities, he said adding that St Johns continues to lay emphasis on rural service as part of its mission to reach out to the medically underserved population in India with at least 25 % of its graduates working in remote and underserved parts of the country.
Dr Alphonsus Mathias, Emeritus Archbishop of Bangalore, said medical graduates must above all be persons who are with a sound sense of values, in order for them to work towards equity and justice in the social fabric of society.
St Johns Medical College was established 1963 by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), New Delhi, with the aim of preparing doctors to serve the medically underserved and 2013 marks the Golden Jubilee Year of its existence. The institution has a 1300 bedded state-of-the-art hospital and a world class Research Institute as part of the campus, the first of its kind to be located in a medical college.
Fr Lawrence D’Souza, Director of St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, said the Institution aimed to continue to serve the cause of compassionate healthcare and quality education in the years to come with renewed vigour with a meaningful Golden Jubilee Celebration during 2013-14.