Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)

Mangaluru, Jan 7: Vice-chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi university of Health Sciences, Dr K S Ravindranath inaugurated the national-level Spectrum-2017⁠ symposium on 'Cardiovascular Therapies and Research Update' at AJ Institute of Medical Sciences here on Saturday January 7.

In his inaugural address, Dr Ravindranath pointed out the need for doctors to serve in the rural areas that are deprived of basic healthcare. "Karnataka has 6,200 primary health centers (PHCs), and every year 6,000 doctors graduate in our state. If we appoint even one doctor per PHC we will have quality healthcare in almost all the PHCs in the rural areas. But we do not know where these doctors go. Among the ones who practice in the state, most do not prefer to serve in the rural areas and hence rural people are deprived of basic healthcare."

He also stressed on the importance of having health insurance. "Health insurance is the need of hour. With this, every individual is able to get super-speciality care at very affordable rates. But only a small portion of the population takes this benefit. The policy makers must realise the importance of health insurance and should enforce acts to provide health insurance to everyone."

Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Research, Bengaluru, Dr C N Manjunath said, "About 52% of the Indian population is suffering from sitting disease. The dangers of sitting six hours continuously at a place is equivalent to the danger caused by smoking a cigarette. This is resulting in cardiovascular complications."

"In our country, only 20 percent of the population receives angioplasty treatment on time. Lack of infrastructure can be considered as a major drawback due to which death rate is very high. We need to educate the public, media, physicians about the basic treatment that must be given to the patient suffering from cardiovascular complications so that he can be saved from the initial danger and can be admitted to the nearby town for angioplasty and hence his life can be saved."

Speaking on the occasion, chairman of AJ Institute of Medical Sciences A J Shetty said, "Patient's co-operation plays a vital role during the recovery period along with the treatment. Cardiologists along with providing treatment must focus on preventive measures as well."

Organising chairman Dr B V Manjunath welcomed the gathering while organising secretary Dr R Purushottam rendered the vote of thanks.

Senior endochronologist Dr Abdul Hamid Zargar from Srinagar, dean of AJ Institute of Medical Sciences Dr Ashok Hegde, external observer Dr Nithish Bhandary and others were present.

Doctors and representatives from various medical institutions from across the country are participating in the symposium.