Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jan 11: The 14th edition of the one-day Cardiology Conference, 'Spectrum 2025', was held at hotel The Ocean Pearl in Kodialbail, Mangaluru, on Saturday, January 11.
Dr C N Manjunath, MP for Bengaluru Rural, officially inaugurated the conference, and congratulated Dr B V Manjunath for consistently organising the event over the years. “We are now in the 14th year of Spectrum, and I commend Dr B V Manjunath for his efforts. Today, we find ourselves caught between doctors and patients due to the explosion of technology and aggressive marketing forces. With advancements in AI and machine learning, the core of medical practice, clinical medicine, is being overshadowed,” Dr Manjunath said.
He stressed the importance of three key principles in healthcare: Talk, Touch, and Treat. “These principles are missing in modern practice, but if we embrace them, the fourth T — Trust— will naturally follow,” he added.
Dr Manjunath expressed concerns about the shift in medical practice, where patients are often unable to fully express their symptoms, making healthcare more investigation-centric rather than patient-centered. He warned that by 2030, the decline in the quality of medical training could result in widespread unemployment for doctors.
He also emphasised the need to understand the financial background of patients to offer quality care across society. “Decision-making is far more important than incision or intervention,” he said.
Dr Manjunath also addressed the Ayushman Bharat scheme, noting that while approximately 60 crore people are enrolled, 600 out of 1,900 cardiology procedures are excluded, causing significant issues for hospitals. He called for a revision of the scheme's rates and pointed out that the number of Below Poverty Line (BPL) cardholders is higher than reported, creating challenges in hospitals.
Discussing lifestyle diseases, Dr Manjunath revealed that 60% of deaths are caused by lifestyle-related conditions, with 30% resulting from heart attacks and strokes. He highlighted the urgent need for 6,500 to 7,000 cardiac cath labs to address the growing burden of these diseases.
“We are now in a situation where even doctors need health camps due to stress and public expectations,” he remarked. “While improving public hospitals is important, the real issue lies in the shortage of manpower. We need to create more posts in public hospitals,” he concluded.
In recognition of his contributions, Dr C N Manjunath was felicitated during the event.
The 14th edition of 'SPECTRUM 2025' marks a milestone since its inception in 2012. The conference is hosting around 250 delegates, including cardiologists, physicians, and postgraduates in cardiology and medicine from Karnataka and neighbouring states. Eminent speakers from across the country are participating in the event, which includes lectures, debates, and interactive sessions on various aspects of cardiology.
Dr B V Manjunath, chief cardiologist at A J Hospital & Research Centre and professor & Head of Cardiology at A J Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Mangaluru, serves as the organising chairman for the event.
The event was attended by the organising committee members, including Dr A J Shetty (chairman, A J Group of Institutions), Dr Prashanth Marla (medical director), patrons Prashanth Shetty, advisors Dr Ashok Shetty, Dr Amitha Marla, organising secretary Dr R Purushottam, and members of the scientific committee, including Dr Praveen J Shetty, Dr Prem Alva, Dr Jayashankar Marla, Dr Gururaj Thantri, and Dr Sambhram Shetty.